Pertussis, or whooping cough, is a very contagious disease that is caused by bacteria and it manifests itself by aggressive coughs that resemble a “whoop” sound. The disease is very widespread around the globe and there are approximately 30-50 million Pertussis cases per year and the disease is responsible for the death of nearly 300,000 per year.

The disease is more common in children, as youths seem more susceptible to the bacteria than adults; unfortunately, most deaths caused by Pertussis are with infants. Pertussis spreads through air, from one infected individual to another. Sometimes, because of the violent coughs, people tend to vomit, which can lead to malnutrition and dehydration.

More and more cases of “whooping cough” have started showing up, mostly in elementary students. Doctors say that the small epidemic is normal for this time of the year and that every 4 years, it has been observed that Pertussis cases are a bit more frequent.

Even so, schools have taken special precautions to contain the disease, so children showing signs of the disease are to stay at home and follow the special treatment their doctors gave them. Students won’t be allowed to go back to school until the parents have provided a letter confirming that the disease was cured and that the danger of spreading it to other is over. The letter should come from the child’s medic.

It is normal for institutions to do all in their power to try and stop something that seems like an epidemic, and with Pertussis known for being especially contagious the measures taken are more than appropriate.