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MURRAY — The Salt Lake County Health Department is investigating an outbreak of pertussis, or whooping cough, at the American International School of Utah in Murray after 14 students were allegedly infected.

The investigation began at the beginning of April and, as of Friday, 14 cases were being investigated. Not all cases were confirmed as pertussis, but all seemed probable, according to a statement by Nicholas Rupp, Communications Director for the Salt Lake County Health Department.

Pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory disease and is characterized by uncontrollable, violent coughing which often makes it hard to breathe, according to the Center for Disease Control.

"After fits of many coughs, someone with pertussis often needs to take deep breaths which result in a 'whooping' sound," the Center for Disease Control says. "Pertussis can affect people of all ages, but can be very serious, even deadly, for babies less than a year old. The best way to protect against pertussis is by getting vaccinated."

About 11 percent of the students who attend the American International School of Utah have parents who have signed an "exemption form" that excuses these students from having to receive Utah immunizations, Rupp said.

Because of this exemption, 30 of the unvaccinated students in the most affected classrooms have been asked to stay out of school for a minimum of 21 days (the incubation period of pertussis). If pertussis continues to spread, the remainder of students who are exempt from immunizations may also be asked to leave for a certain time period, according to officials from the Salt Lake County Health Department.

The school is currently on spring break and authorities will continue to investigate how pertussis spread among the students when the break concludes.

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