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Burlington, NC-- An investigation that started in December turned into a communicable disease in one Alamance County school has now entered day cares. And the number of cases continue to grow.
During the December Winter Break, Alamance Burlington Schools and health officials notified parents and staff of B. Everett Jordan Elementary that there were confirmed cases of Pertussis, also known as Whooping Cough, in the school.
All students and parents who may have had contact with the infected children were given treatment.
Since that time, the Alamance County Dept of Public Health has confirmed the growing number of cases and additional schools.
Thursday, the agency said they now have 82 confirmed cases that affects 14 schools and child care centers throughout Alamance County. Medical Director Dr. Kathleen Shapley-Quinn said that breaks down to five elementary schools, four middle schools, two daycares, and the rest of the cases are people in the community.
Shapely-Quinn said there has not been an outbreak of pertussis in Alamance County in the last 10 years.
The county is trying to make it easier for people to get the vaccinations they need. Vaccinations used to be $35, but for the next month they'll be free at the health department to make sure people can get vaccinations.
There will also be a community-wide Tdap vaccination clinic on Friday, March 2, from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The clinic will be at the Mebane Arts and Community Center. The center is located at 633 Corregidor Street in Mebane.
Shapely-Quinn said they're not trying to alarm parents and parents shouldn't be too concerned. The health department just wants to make them more aware.
Stay tuned to Digtriad and WFMY News 2 for updates.
Alamance Co. Health Dept./WFMY News 2