Up North Progressive

Kingsley Area Schools reported three confirmed cases of Pertussis in their schools, bringing the total number of cases to 34 in Grand Traverse County.

Traverse City Area Public Schools currently has 15 confirmed cases of Whooping Cough spread over six school buildings. School officials have assured the community they have taken steps to prevent the spread of the potentially deadly but preventable disease from spreading further. Most students attending TCAPS are vaccinated.

The Whooping Cough outbreak in Grand Traverse County originated with for-profit charter school Grand Traverse Academy. A high number of cases developed there which forced the school to close for an entire week. Currently, GTA has 16 confirmed cases of Pertussis and 166 possible cases at that school. State records show that nearly 20% of GTA’s enrollment have vaccination waivers in their school files.

The alarming number of Whooping Cough cases occurring at GTA emphasizes the importance of everyone attending school – whether it is a public school or a for-profit charter school – to be up to date on all immunizations.