"[At this point] no one is contagious," said Director of Health Services Daniel Clapp. "Now it is just a question of whether someone else was infected while these students were contagious."
Health services treated all but the last case in late October and early November. The eighth case was diagnosed and treated while the student was at home over Thanksgiving break.
Because the situation at the College is now considered an outbreak, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health has instructed Health Services to treat any students who report symptoms of whooping cough without waiting to confirm positive test results. Clapp said that health services was already following this policy.
The treatment for whooping cough consists of a five-day dosage of the antibiotic Zithromax, after which those infected are no longer contagious.
"There is no cause for concern on the part of the student body," said Clapp. "[Whooping cough] is not a dangerous disease, just a bad cough."
"When we return from the end-of-semester break, everyone should be free of suspicion and infection" Clapp added.