Whooping cough has been diagnosed in three students of Kingsley Area Schools, affecting all three of the district's school buildings. In a letter today from Superintendent Keith Smith to parents, Smith states that one student each in the elementary school, middle school and high school have been diagnosed with pertussis. The students are in fourth, eighth and ninth grades.

"These students are receiving medical treatments and will not be in school until at least five days or when otherwise approved to return to school by the health department or medical doctor," writes Smith. He adds: "We are passing this information along as a precaution because it is difficult to determine how many students may have been exposed." Smith asks parents to "please inform the school if your child is diagnosed with whooping cough" and includes information from the Grand Traverse County Health Department on identifying and preventing pertussis.

That department has been overseeing 22 other confirmed cases of whooping cough in the county, 11 of which are connected to an outbreak at Grand Traverse Academy. There are also 167 probable cases of the disease in the community linked to that outbreak and 14 other tests pending.