Cuyahoga Falls school district reports confirmed whooping cough at 6-12 campus and Price Elementary

The district sent a letter to all middle school and high school families after the 6-12 case was confirmed. The letter said children at that campus may have been exposed. The district also said it was notified on Nov. 6 of additional confirmed cases at Price Elementary School.

Christine Stewart, the district's coordinator of community relations, said in an email that custodial staff were implementing enhanced cleaning and sanitization as an additional precaution to help limit potential spread.

What families are being told

The district advised parents to make a doctor's appointment as soon as possible if a child develops a cough after possible exposure and to notify the school. A diagnosed child cannot attend class or participate in extracurricular activities until they have been on the appropriate antibiotic for five days, school officials said.

People can spread the bacteria from the start of symptoms and for at least two weeks after coughing begins, and symptoms usually appear five to 10 days after exposure but can take up to three weeks, according to the CDC. Taking antibiotics early can shorten the time someone is contagious. The district's letter urged families to make sure vaccinations were up to date and to get the vaccine as soon as possible if they were not.

Whooping cough risk

Whooping cough, also called pertussis, is a bacterial infection that affects the airways and spreads through coughing or sneezing. The severe cough can last for weeks or months and can lead to coughing fits or vomiting, according to the district's letter.

About 1 in 3 babies younger than 1 who get whooping cough need hospital care, according to the CDC. Babies under two months cannot receive the DTaP vaccine and depend on the immunity of the people around them.

The CDC recommends a Tdap booster between weeks 27 and 36 of pregnancy, regardless of prior vaccination timing. Children who get all five DTaP doses on schedule are 98% protected from illness within the year after the last dose, and about 70% are fully protected five years after the last dose, the agency says.

The CDC's June 22, 2026 respiratory update said whooping cough was still circulating across the United States. Preliminary surveillance data showed 2026 case counts lower than the same period in 2025, but the disease was moving back toward pre-pandemic patterns in which more than 10,000 cases are reported each year.

What happens next

The district said another letter would go to elementary school families. Stewart said it would continue to monitor the situation and communicate relevant updates to families as more information became available.