McKinley Health Center reported an increase in cases of pertussis, also known as whooping cough, on campus earlier this month. This marks the first rise in infections at the University in over four years, according to McKinley’s Executive Director Awais Vaid.
The recent identification of positive cases of pertussis led McKinley to increase monitoring and reporting to state health officials. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also requires health systems to report cases of pertussis for national data collection.
In response to the detected cases, Vaid said McKinley tested people in close contact with the positive cases and those showing symptoms of pertussis.
“In the last month, we have seen probably a total of nine cases,” Vaid said. “We’ve tested another 200 students, all of whom have tested negative. The testing is done in-house, so we know pretty quickly when the results come back.”
The University is required by state law to ensure students are immunized against pertussis, usually in the form of the DTP vaccine, which also protects against diphtheria and tetanus. Despite high vaccination rates among the student body, the reemergence of the bacterial infection shows the protective effects of the pertussis vaccine diminish over time.
“We have a very high compliance rate on this campus, 99% or more,” Vaid said. “Unfortunately, the immunity from the pertussis component of the vaccine does not offer lifelong immunity. Over a period of five years, maybe 10, the immunity starts to wane. All of the positive cases we’ve seen were vaccinated.”
Waning immunity poses a challenge in a campus setting, where dense living conditions and frequent social interactions can facilitate the spread of infectious diseases.
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“People with depressed immune systems, whether they are on medications that depress their immune system or have certain conditions, are at higher risk,” Vaid said. “Living in close proximity to many people, as happens on campus, increases exposure risk.”
The individuals who tested positive may have faced more severe symptoms had they not been vaccinated, according to Vaid. Of the nine positive cases, none were hospitalized for their symptoms.
In response to the outbreak, McKinley has proactively reinforced health and safety protocols among the student population. Because pertussis is spread by coughing and sneezing, McKinley emphasizes respiratory etiquette and hygiene: staying home when sick, wearing a mask and frequently disinfecting personal items.
Drawing from the experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic, Vaid talked about their application to current health challenges.
“One good thing from the pandemic is that it normalized a lot of the things that people were not comfortable doing in the past,” Vaid said. “For example, wearing a mask in public places was not common before the pandemic, and now, it has sort of become normalized. I see students wearing a mask all the time, which is wonderful because it does cut down on the spread of infection.”
Vaid said individual responsibility and proactive health behavior are essential in controlling the spread of infections on campus. He said all students enrolled in six or more credit hours can visit the health center and be evaluated.
If you feel sick, you can schedule an appointment with McKinley here.
