We are experiencing a high volume of students (and staff) with cough and flu symptoms. Please ensure you keep your children home from school if they present with a nasty cough, runny nose or fever. We are continuing to rely on habits developed throughout the Covid lockdown and use the hand sanitiser every day before and after eating, entering the classroom and after the toilets.

Department of Health Warning for parents and families.

Increasing Pertussis (Whooping Cough) Cases

MAIN POINTS

• The Department of Health, Victoria has issued a health alert, Increasing pertussis (whooping cough) cases in Victoria.

• The key messages are:

o cases of pertussis are increasing in Victoria, mostly affecting children aged 10-12 years

o pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory illness known for causing a cough and can lead to life threatening infections in babies

o symptoms of pertussis may be very similar to other respiratory infections, especially in the early stages, meaning diagnosis by a doctor as soon as possible is important.

For contacts of diagnosed cases:

o The exclusion requirement only applies to contacts who meet all three (3) of the below

criteria:

- aged less than 7 years;

- in the same class as the student with the diagnosed case; and

- have not received three (3) effective doses of pertussis vaccine.

• Students meeting these criteria should be excluded for 14 days after the last exposure to the infectious case, or until they have taken five (5) days of a course of effective antibiotic treatment.