We have just learned that a child who attended the Fauntleroy Fall Festival on

Sunday, Oct. 27, was diagnosed with pertussis (whooping cough). This child was
contagious at the time, though the family did not suspect pertussis at the time. The
family was at the bus stops, in the Fauntleroy Church/YMCA parking lot, and in
several areas of the church building, including the sanctuary during the Endolyne
Children’s Choir performance.
All efforts are being made to contact any who may have been exposed or visited
areas when the child was there.
Even if you did not attend the festival, know that a case of pertussis has been
confirmed in West Seattle and could very well spread. The CDC is aware and is
taking steps to address the issue, but now is an important time to make sure you
and your children are up to date on immunizations. Children vaccinated against
pertussis can still catch and spread the disease (the infected child at the festival had
been vaccinated), but symptoms are generally much less severe.
Here is a summary of information from the CDC on pertussis/whooping cough;
more comprehensive information is at www.cdc.gov/pertussis:
Pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory disease…known for uncontrollable, violent coughing,
which often makes breathing difficult. After coughing, someone with pertussis often needs to
take deep breaths, which results in a “whooping” sound. Pertussis can affect people of all ages,
but can be very serious, even deadly, for babies less than a year old…
People with pertussis usually spread the disease to another person by coughing or sneezing or
when spending a lot of time near one another where you share breathing space. Many babies who
get pertussis are infected by older siblings, parents, or caregivers who might not even know they
have the disease…
Symptoms of pertussis usually develop within 5 to 10 days after you are exposed. Sometimes
pertussis symptoms do not develop for as long as 3 weeks.
…The disease usually starts with cold-like symptoms and maybe a mild cough or fever. In
babies, the cough can be minimal or not even there. Babies may have a symptom known as
“apnea”- a pause in breathing pattern. Pertussis is most dangerous for babies…
Early symptoms can last for 1 to 2 weeks and usually include:
• Runny nose
• Low-grade fever (generally minimal throughout the course of the disease)
• Mild, occasional cough
• Apnea - a pause in breathing (in babies)

Pertussis in its early stages appears to be nothing more than the common cold. Therefore,
healthcare professionals often do not suspect or diagnose it until more severe symptoms appear.
After 1 to 2 weeks and as the disease progresses, the traditional symptoms of pertussis may
appear and include:
• Paroxysms (fits) of many, rapid coughs followed by a high-pitched “whoop” sound
• Vomiting (throwing up) during or after coughing fits
• Exhaustion (very tired) after coughing fits

It is important to know that many babies with pertussis don’t cough at all. Instead, it causes them
to stop breathing and turn blue. …The infection is generally milder in teens and adults,
especially those who have gotten the pertussis vaccine.