Whooping cough cases rising at Lexington high schools. Here’s what you need to know

Pertussis, or whooping cough, is spreading at Lexington schools with six total cases so far, and all central Kentucky families should look for symptoms while ensuring kids are up-to-date on their vaccines, Lexington-Fayette Health Department officials said Wednesday.

Pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory illness spread by coughing and sneezing. It affects people of all ages but can be most serious in infants and those with chronic diseases., officials said.

Fayette County’s six cases are all in school-aged children and have been reported since late April, including two confirmed cases Tuesday at Lafayette and Henry Clay high schools

The previous cases have been at Bryan Station, Lafayette and Lexington Catholic high schools, health department spokesperson Kevin Hall said Wednesday.

The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department is investigating to see whether a possible connection exists in the cases. It continues to work with Fayette County Public Schools to make caregivers aware of the threat of pertussis.

The Health Department is recommending preventive antibiotics for high-risk students who were exposed to pertussis.

Thy include students with a chronic illness or weakened immune system and those who live in households with the following: a family member with a chronic illness or weakened immune system, an infant or a pregnant woman.