The first positive test was on Oct. 26. Another student tested positive on Nov. 2. Three days later, two others were also diagnosed with whooping cough.
Three of the four infected students participated in the same science program this summer, and two of the infected students, roommates Dave Straub '02 and John Phillips '02, play on the men's rugby team.
Health Services called all the members of the rugby team on Friday and told them to come in to get antibiotics.
According to Clapp, the College is required by the public health department to treat all those significantly exposed. While none of the other rugby players have symptoms, the majority are still taking Zithromax, which is a five-day treatment consisting of six pills.
Matt Reichstein '05, a member of the rugby team, is not taking antibiotics. "I was told by my dad, who is a doctor, that it is a bad idea to take antibiotics when you don't have any symptoms," he said. "So, I am not taking the pills."
Phillips was diagnosed with whooping cough on Friday. He had cold-like symptoms, with a persistent, dry cough for three weeks. He did not experience the severe coughing attacks described in Clapp's email, and said that whooping cough has not affected him that much. He has continued to go to class and to rugby practice.
"I think that the College has handled the situation very well," Phillips said. "They are taking a very cautious approach."
Some students, however, are not pleased with the way health services has dealt with the situation. Elizabeth Dei Rossi '05 went to health services four times over the semester and was never confirmed to have whooping cough.
Three weeks ago, she returned to health services for the fourth time, having been treated for bronchitis and pneumonia, but still feeling sick. "I would get these attacks, where I would cough, then inhale, and then be unable to breathe," Dei Rossi said. "The attacks would get so bad that I would throw up."
Dei Rossi had one of these attacks in Clapp's office. He did blood work on her and said that she probably had whooping cough. Although she was given Zithromax, an inhaler and cough syrup with codeine, she never received confirmation of the diagnosis.
Dei Rossi was not able to practice with the rest of the women's soccer team until yesterday, after being sidelined for a month because of her illness.
Yesterday, health services called all members of the women's soccer team and instructed them to come in for Zithromax treatment. Lee-Jay Henry '05, also a member of the team, has a confirmed case of whooping cough.
Clapp said that it is very important that all members of the men's rugby and women's soccer teams come in and start taking the antibiotics.
"I hope this isn't going to stir up anxiety and worry," Clapp said in reference to his email.
Clapp stressed that people should not be too concerned. "We have no reason to believe that those who haven't been notified have been exposed," he said. However, he added that those people who were not notified but are experiencing symptoms, "should not be worried, and should feel free to come in and we will check them out."
Whooping cough "usually begins with cold-like symptoms, with a runny nose, sneezing and a dry cough," wrote Clapp in the email. "The cough lasts for a week or two, then slowly gets worse. The next stage, which may last from four to six weeks, is marked by uncontrollable coughing spells, often followed by vomiting. Between spells, the person may appear to be well."