Two students at Elm Road elementary school in the Penn Harris Madison district have been diagnosed with Pertussis, also known as whooping cough.

The first student was diagnosed June 11, the second on Friday.

They've both been given an antibiotic and are being isolated from activities. A letter from the school will be going out Monday to inform parents.

"Not necessarily that [the students] are considered close contacts," explains Indiana Health Department Epidemiologist Mona Wenger, "but just to make them aware that two cases have been identified in the school. In the letter is information on how to prevent [the disease] and what signs and symptoms to look for. The prevention that we always recommend - and the best prevention - is immunizations."

Wenger says the symptoms to look out for are a cough for more than two weeks, fits of coughing, or a cough and vomiting.

If you have any symptoms, you should visit your doctor.

For more information on Pertussis (whooping cough), see the CDC's website in the Related Links secion below this story.