Pertussis Exposure Casts a Shadow Over Stuyvesant’s Halloween Celebrations

On October 31, Stuyvesant Director of Family Engagement Dina Ingram issued a letter informing all Stuyvesant students and their parents of a pertussis exposure that occurred within the school. Pertussis—otherwise known as whooping cough—is a highly contagious respiratory infection, and its nickname derives from the characteristic “whoop” sound that an infected person makes when inhaling after a coughing fit. It is an airborne disease, meaning that it can be spread through coughing or sneezing, and its symptoms can last for more than two weeks.

Pertussis transmits through the deposition of respiratory, oral, or nasal secretions from an infected person, so being in unprotected close contact with an infected person is a common way to be exposed. Pertussis is exceptionally contagious compared to other illnesses, even before experiencing major symptoms. The disease has three stages that last up to a total of three weeks. People can be contagious for many weeks—not just from the start of symptoms—so taking antibiotics early on can help prevent extreme pertussis, alleviate symptoms, and shorten the contagion time. Maintaining hygienic practices such as regular hand washing, avoiding touching one’s face, and covering coughs and sneezes are very important in preventing pertussis’s transmission. General health practices are also really important, as they can better prepare the body to fight off illnesses.

Since pertussis is very contagious, Stuyvesant’s administration follows strict protocols to ensure the safety and well-being of our school community. Pertussis can affect anyone, especially unvaccinated individuals and those with a weak immune system, such as infants and the elderly. Within schools, the infection can spread fairly quickly and could potentially lead to larger outbreaks.

The best way to prevent pertussis is by getting vaccinated. The Department of Education (DOE) requires every student from Pre-K through 12th grade to meet specific vaccination requirements in order to attend school, including receiving the DTaP and Tdap vaccines that protect against pertussis. These vaccinations are specifically intended for children ages seven through 10, though later doses can be administered in a series of “catch-up” vaccinations. This mandate is put in place to ensure that schools are a healthy space and to maintain herd immunity. While the DOE requires students to get the pertussis vaccine, other methods of protection and prevention are important, such as taking antibiotics after being exposed and being hygienic. However, vaccine protection can diminish over time, which is why booster shots are critical to maintaining immunity and reducing the spread of the disease.

The COVID-19 pandemic has made people more alert to how impactful illnesses can be. Many people, especially those with big families, have become more sensitive to experiencing symptoms of an illness, and individuals are more likely to distance themselves from those experiencing a cough or symptom for fear of catching it themselves. The pandemic has also led to more awareness of prevention methods such as mask-wearing and social distancing. However, despite these extensive precautions, Stuyvesant found itself in a sudden exposure last week.

Junior Valerie Chu was recently infected with pertussis. She shared her experience with the disease: “It got to the point where I would be coughing so hard that I’d wake myself up at night. I’ll feel like I have to throw up or like I can’t breathe.” Her experience shows not only the physical toll that pertussis can have but also how it can disrupt daily life, especially in such a demanding academic setting like at Stuyvesant. 

Some students also had concerns about how it may affect their school life. “It might be overreacting, but being sick and dealing with school is the worst. I remember last year over Thanksgiving break I had the worst fever ever—a pounding headache and a really bad cough, and I had a bunch of tests that same week. [It was the] worst experience ever,” sophomore Najifa Chowdhury said. The stakes of missing school due to illness go beyond health as well. “Missing even one day would significantly impact us and make us need to ask other friends for notes and learn lessons by ourselves—it piles up,” Chowdhury said. After everything students have faced through COVID, it is understandable that there would be a bit of concern. “I wasn’t completely concerned, since I haven’t heard much about the virus from friends or the news, but I was still a little worried,” Chowdhury said.

However, some students weren’t as concerned as others. “I don't know anyone who got whooping cough, but I do know a lot of people who have recently gotten COVID. I just don’t feel like this is a big concern for me,” senior Nordel Wangsel Delma said. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has made people much more aware of the impact of sickness and health. Chowdhury said, “The past couple of years have changed our perception of illnesses. Taking care of our health is really important, and for many individuals, having an illness or being susceptible to an illness can be inconvenient.”