Whooping Cough Spreads At Local Private School

There are newly confirmed cases of pertussis, or whooping cough at the Waldorf School of Santa Barbara.

KEYT/KCOY/KKFX spoke to an official with the Santa Barbara County Health Department on Sunday who confirms the disease has spread.

The first case of whooping cough was reported at the Waldorf School’s lower campus located at Vieja Valley School in Santa Barbara on Friday, October 10.

The Waldorf School released a statement on Sunday, detailing information about the new cases.

Waldorf says it notified the Goleta Union School District on Monday, October 13 about the initial case. Waldorf notified the district again later in the week after a student at the upper campus was diagnosed.

The upper campus shares space with Goleta Union School District Office on Fairview Avenue.

The additional cases were diagnosed after parents requested pertussis tests for their kids.

Waldorf says 5 students have the disease.

According to Waldorf’s statement, 31 percent of of Early Childhood students are not immunized against pertussis, 16 percent are partially immunized and 53 percent are fully immunized for the 2014-2015 school year.