Whooping cough has now spread to Kingsley public schools, while Grand Traverse County has confirmed 34 cases.
In Kingsley, one student in all three buildings - elementary, middle and high school - has come down with whooping cough. School officials have asked parents to keep home any child who has a cough, even if it seems minor.
While the county recommends vaccination it’s not necessarily a guarantee, says county health officer Wendy Trute.
“There have been cases where people were up to date on their vaccinations,” she says. “There’s also been cases in those who weren’t current on their vaccinations and those who have never been vaccinated.”
Also known as pertussis, the outbreak was first reported locally at Grand Traverse Academy. Since then, cases have hit schools in every part of the county, Trute says.
“I can tell you that they’re scattered throughout the county, so they’re not basically just one area.”
Whooping cough can be transmitted through coughs and sneezes.