Since the email from School Nurse Michelle Webster was sent out to parents on November 19, Whooping Cough has been a common topic of conversation throughout JC. Pertussis starts with typical cold symptoms but then transitions into excessive coughing with a feeling of shortness of breath along with even worse symptoms that could last up to multiple weeks or months.

As of last Wednesday, JC has 10 documented cases with seven having fully gone through the antibiotic process, according to Principal Tom Durkin.

Many “close-contact students” have been notified by the Health Department and have been advised to see a doctor out of caution.
Multiple rumors surfaced among students soon after the Lessons of the Shoah was canceled for November 20 after participating schools and speakers made the decision not to come. These rumors consisted of multiple incorrect notions that Health Department had said to either cancel assemblies or close schools due to a certain percentage of students who have contracted the disease.
According to Ms. Teresa Woodward, Infectious Disease Program Supervisor at the Harford County Health Department, “There is no criteria that the Health Department follows to determine whether the school should be closed.” She noted that closure is up to the discretion of the school’s administration.

According to Maryland Health Department Communications Director, Ms. Molly Mraz ‘03, John Carroll was never instructed to cancel the Thanksgiving Prayer service but that “if students had Pertussis or cold-like symptoms, they were advised not to attend the prayer service” to avoid furthering the outbreak.

Mr. Durkin said that a substitute nurse has been brought in to relieve Mrs. Webster of her day-to-day duties so that she may focus on paperwork related to the Pertussis outbreak.

Mrs. Webster has been in close contact with the Health Department to remain updated on certain protocols and guidelines.

“They have been very helpful, and I think this is something that’s new for them, too. I think there have been other Whooping Cough outbreaks, but understand that an outbreak constitutes two students or more,” said Mr. Durkin regarding communication with the Health Department.

In contrast to the rumors, Ms. Mraz said that “John Carroll has done an excellent job communicating with our Communicable Disease program and making sure that they have gathered all of the necessary information to make the best decision for the students and staff.”

Parents have also been kept regularly up-to-date, receiving another email on December 9, outlining the current state of the outbreak and the executive decision to reconstruct the December 13 Advent Prayer service. This reconstruction avoided entire-school congregation out of caution for the outbreak.

The Health Department stated that it is vital for students experiencing symptoms associated with Pertussis to stay home and “practice good hygiene when coughing or sneezing.”