UHS reports eight new cases of pertussis

Despite the increased incidence of cases, Cliatt said, “The situation is improving.”

“We’re still testing students, but the number of students coming in with new symptoms has declined,” she explained.

The eight students most recently diagnosed with the disease developed their symptoms more than a month ago but only came to the McCosh Health Center this week, Cliatt said. She added that this suggests that the eight recent cases are concurrent with the original cases and do not indicate that the disease is spreading rampantly.

“The most recent cases are tied to the existing cases that we already had, and these students had symptoms weeks ago but only now have been tested,” Cliatt said. “They are most likely no longer contagious … so their actual infection is concurrent with the original cases.”

Fewer than 100 students have been tested for pertussis since the first cases were reported, and the number of students who have needed testing has declined, Cliatt noted.

Students who believed they had been in close contact with infected students were encouraged to undergo testing and to take antibiotics as a preventative measure. “Antibiotics in the first weeks can decrease the severity and likeliness of spreading it,” Cliatt said.

UHS collaborated with local and state agencies to conduct contact investigations. “There are privacy concerns, and we are not permitted to go into other persons’ medical files, so sometimes we need to contact an outside agency because the state and local agencies have more flexibility to go into peoples’ files than we do,” Cliatt said.

UHS held an immunization clinic April 21 to provide TDaP vaccine boosters to students for $90 each. The TDaP booster vaccinates against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis.

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The UHS “Cover Your Cough” campaign is also expanding its efforts to encourage heightened attention to hygiene and prevent an outbreak of swine flu on campus as well. There are now five confirmed cases of swine flu in New Jersey, though none on the University campus, UHS Director John Kolligian announced in an e-mail Thursday.

Some students said they believe that students who have pertussis should refrain from attending class while they are contagious.

Bethani Williams ’11 said that a friend of hers who has whooping cough is still going to work and to class.

“I think she shouldn’t be interacting with the community as long as it’s contagious,” Williams said.

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Anthony Loring ’11 echoed Williams’ sentiment, adding that he is surprised by the pertussis on campus.

“I did not think we would have this on Princeton[’s] campus,” he explained. “I am surprised by that. It makes me a little nervous, but it’s not keeping me up at night. Swine flu, on the other hand…”