salisbury

Salisbury Township School District Superintendent Dr. Randy Ziegenfuss announced Dec. 18 all schools would be closed Dec. 21 through 23 due to a health issue.

Ziegenfuss said in his message a case of pertussis (whooping cough) was confirmed at Salisbury HS Dec. 10. Parents were notified at that time if students had been in contact with the affected student.

Ziegenfuss said there are now five confirmed cases, with two of those confirmed Dec. 18. He said additional high school students are being tested.

“We have discussed this situation with the Pennsylvania Department of Health. As a result of this health concern and in an effort to constrain the spread of the disease, Salisbury Township School District will be closed Monday through Wednesday Dec. 21 to 23. All activities beginning Dec. 21 through Dec. 27 will be postponed. School will resume according to the calendar Jan. 4, 2016. Makeup dates will be Feb. 12, 2016, March 24, 2016 and June 10, 2016.

A letter on the school district website describes pertussis as a highly contagious disease spread through the air when an infected person sneezes or coughs. Pertussis begins with cold symptoms and a cough that becomes much worse over one to two weeks.

Symptoms usually include a long series of coughs (coughing fits) followed by a whooping noise; however, older children, adults and very young infants may not develop the whoop. There is generally no fever. The cough is usually worse at night and cough medicines usually do not help alleviate the cough. The disease can be very severe, especially in infants less than one year old.