Six Cases of Whooping Cough Confirmed in NK Schools

Six North Kingstown students have officially been diagnosed with whooping cough, according to the Providence Journal.

The Health Department announced that six cases of whooping cough (also known as pertussis) have been confirmed in students from three North Kingstown schools. According to the department, the group includes four students from , one from and another from .

School closed in the district in June 19, but the first case was confirmed July 2. According to the Journal, the outbreak is unusual "because Rhode Island typically sees single cases of whooping cough," and roughly only 60 per year.

The Health Department has scheduled a community vaccination clinic at on Thursday and Monday from 4 to 7 p.m. They also recommend that people visit their primary care physician for immunization.