By ANDY GARDNER

CANTON -- Canton Central School District had a student recently test positive for pertussis, commonly called whooping cough.

“I just got confirmation from nurses that the public health department has contacted everyone who has had extended contact with the student,” Canton Central Superintendent of Schools Bill Gregory said. “We’re monitoring the students with increased diligence to get folks to the nurse and notify families if they should follow up with their family physician.”

He said the student, who attended the middle school, had been vaccinated for the disease.

“As far as I know, the student had been vaccinated,” Gregory said.

He said with the upcoming winter break, school staff will disinfect the whole school.

“Thorough cleaning of the building will be accomplished over the winter break coming up here,” Gregory said.

He says "very few" students at Canton are not vaccinated. The state says students must be vaccinated against diseases including pertussis, unless they have “a documented religious objection,” according to the superintendent.

“We comply with the state guidance on vaccinations. The state is becoming more directive on making sure students have proper vaccinations at school,” Gregory said.

A statement the district published on its website on Friday says children should be observed for the next two weeks for symptoms including running nose, sudden, uncontrollable bursts or spells of coughing that persist and sometimes cause vomiting.

“These symptoms should be reported immediately to your doctor,” the statement reads. “Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory disease. It can be serious in children up to seven years of age and in those who are not completely immunized against the disease. Bacteria are spread by inhaling infected droplets of a coughing or sneezing child or by direct contact with discharges from a running nose. Household members and close contacts that have been exposed to the infected child are at increased risk, and should be checked by their physicians.”

A pertussis fact sheet from the Centers for Disease Control is at http://bit.ly/1O6Ppsu.

Anyone with further concerns can contact the St. Lawrence County Public Health Department at 386-2325.