Yesterday, Director of Health Services Christine Mahoney wrote in an email to students that the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed at least three cases of pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, at the College.

“You may have been exposed to pertussis,” Mahoney wrote.

Whooping cough is a bacterial infection that often begins with cold-like symptoms and progresses into a severe cough that can cause vomiting and difficulty breathing, according to Mahoney’s email. Symptoms can last for several weeks, and while they usually begin five to ten days after exposure, they may take up to three weeks to develop. The infection is highly contagious, and individuals are most contagious for the two weeks after their cough begins.

“Anyone can get pertussis, including people who have had [the] pertussis vaccine,” Mahoney wrote. “Pertussis can cause serious and sometimes deadly complications for babies, especially those who have not received all recommended pertussis vaccines.”

Mahoney encouraged all students to monitor for symptoms and follow general good hygiene practices, including hand-washing and covering coughs and sneezes. For students who are experiencing symptoms, she outlined steps to take, including scheduling an appointment with Health Services to test for whooping cough and isolating until they receive the test results.

Students who are diagnosed with whooping cough should isolate until they complete five days of antibiotic treatment. Additionally, roommates and high-risk close contacts (including infants, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems) should be treated with preventative antibiotics and isolate if they have symptoms, according to Mahoney’s email. Students who are isolating can follow a “sick meal” protocol to request take-out meals from Thorne Hall or Moulton Union.

Mahoney also reiterated the importance of vaccination in preventing the spread of disease.

“Please make sure your vaccinations are up to date. Older children and adults, including pregnant women, should get a pertussis booster shot called Tdap to help protect themselves and any babies around them,” she wrote.