Great Bend Post

GREAT BEND -Barton County is still in a pertussis outbreak but at this point, no news is good news.

Last week it was reported a third confirmed case of whooping cough had occurred at the Great Bend High School.

The Barton County Health Department and Great Bend school district sent letters to all parents and guardians in the district to warn them of the cases.

Shelly Schneider, director of the Barton County Health Department, says it was a quiet weekend in her world. “The cases are more sporadic now,” she said. “We had a lull last weekend into the weekend. Everything is going according to plan and hopefully it is slowing down.”

The first symptoms of pertussis appear 7-10 days after a person is exposed. Barton County cannot consider themselves done with the outbreak until 42 consecutive days have gone by without any new cases of whooping cough.

The first symptoms of pertussis appear 7-10 days after a person is exposed. Barton County cannot consider themselves done with the outbreak until 42 consecutive days have gone by without any new cases of whooping cough.