POWAY: A 14-year-old student at Poway High School has been diagnosed with whooping cough, prompting health and school officials to alert parents.

Officials said the student attended school last week.

The case was reported to the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency on Monday, the same day the Poway Unified School District sent an e-mail to parents.

The school sent additional information home with students yesterday, cautioning parents to watch for symptoms of the highly contagious illness. Principal Scott Fisher said the infected student will stay home until the condition clears.

The student had not been immunized against whooping cough, also known as pertussis. It is marked by a dry, severe cough and can easily spread from sneezing or coughing. Treatment consists of antibiotics.

The county said 29 cases of whooping cough have been recorded in the county this year, compared with 50 in 2007 and 145 in 2006. –J.R.