PORTSMOUTH, R.I. (WPRI) — Four students at Portsmouth High School have been diagnosed with pertussis, more commonly known as whooping cough. The Rhode Island Department of Health issued an advisory to the Portsmouth community on Tuesday. Three of the students with pertussis are in 10th grade, and the other student is in 11th grade, according to the notice. All students at Portsmouth High School are considered exposed to the respiratory illness. How to stop the dry air from irritating your sinuses Pertussis cases first popped up in Portsmouth last month, but much smaller groups of students were considered exposed to the bacterial disease. There has also been one case of pertussis at Meadow Brook Waldorf School in South Kingstown. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said pertussis is "very contagious" and cases are on the rise in 2024. Pertussis usually presents like a cold at first with coughing, sneezing and a runny nose. The dry cough can last for weeks or even months. While the illness is normally not harmful to adults and older children, it can be very harmful for babies. Infants with pertussis may have problems breathing and develop pneumonia, seizures or brain damage. CDC: Learn more about whooping cough outbreaks Portsmouth High School families are being advised to monitor their children closely. Children who are coughing should be evaluated by a doctor and kept at home from school and activities until they have taken antibiotics for pertussis for five days in a row. Children who have a weakened immune system or live with someone who has a weakened immune system should take preventative antibiotics prescribed by their health care provider. Portsmouth High School families should mention the advisory to their health care providers when contacting them. The advisory says families should make sure their children are up to date on their pertussis shots too. The pertussis vaccine for infants and pre-school children is called DTaP. The booster for adolescents and adults is called Tdap. Tdap is required for all Rhode Island students entering 7th grade as the protection from DTaP wears down. For more information on pertussis, click here or call the Health Department at (401) 222-2577. LEARN MORE: Whooping cough in Rhode Island Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup SIGN UP NOW