Second Natrona County School District Whooping Cough Case Confirmed

A second case of whooping cough has been confirmed at a Natrona County School District school.

District officials say the second confirmed case of the severe bacterial infection was found at University Park Elementary in Casper. The confirmed case comes just weeks after another case was confirmed at Cottonwood Elementary.

The potentially deadly bacterial infection, which is also called Pertussis, is characterized by violent coughing, occasionally to the point of vomiting. Additional symptoms include runny nose, sneezing and fever.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, the illness can be particularly dangerous for infants and young children. The CDC says, of the 255 whooping cough deaths reported from 2000 to 2012, 221 were children under the age of three.

District officials say Pertussis vaccinations can be obtained through the Casper-Natrona County Health Department.

School district representatives could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.