To: Parents and Guardians

From: Judith LaPan, MS, MBA Administrator, Richland County Health Department
Daniel Farr, EdD., Superintendent, Sidney Public Schools

Dear Parent:

We would like to inform you that we have a confirmed case of pertussis in Richland County. Pertussis is a bacterial disease also known as whooping cough. Staff members of the Sidney School District are working with the Richland County Health Department to educate the public and hopefully contain the spread of this disease.

The Richland County Health Department is making contact with all confirmed cases of pertussis, while also identifying close contacts of those cases that are at higher risk of contracting the disease. As a parent, it is important for you to know that pertussis is a serious disease, but one that is almost always treatable in school age children. The best precautions are cover you cough or sneeze, wash your hands, immunize your children and keep them home if they are sick.

To date, the Sidney High School is the only school directly affected by this outbreak. But we know from past outbreaks that additional cases may arise in other schools. This letter is to inform you that health department staff is working to decrease the potential spread and has made some recommendation that may affect you or your child.

In the event that a case of pertussis is identified in your student’s school, the Health Department is prepared to begin working immediately with school staff to identify close contacts and advise parents on how to keep their children healthy. This effort has includes interviews with student, families, and staff. Some students may be referred to their health care provider for testing and treatment. Some students may be excluded from school and school events to protect them and others around them and to contain the spread of the disease. All of these actions are being taken collaboration with physicians, and partners at the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services. These efforts are also guided by recommendations from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

We need your assistance in this process and understand that you may have questions.  A list of frequently asked questions (FAQ) will be sent home with your child on Monday, April 30th. While these FAQ cannot address all concerns and questions, we hope they will serve as a solid foundation of knowledge. Much of the information in these FAQs has been taken directly from guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. You may also visit the Richland County Health Department web-site at richland.org or call us at 433-2207.