UC Davis is distributing the letter from the Yolo County Health and Human Services Agency, below, to share with the campus community that four cases of whooping cough have been identified in the last month among UC Davis’ roughly 40,000 students.
Student Health and Counseling Services is working in coordination with the Yolo County Health and Human Services Agency, and contact tracing is being conducted to identify and notify those who have been in close contact with the infected persons.
Student Health has increased the number of telehealth visits available to evaluate and guide students who might have symptoms, those who live with infected individuals and those who are known close contacts who may have risk factors. When appropriate, these students are then connected to additional resources.
May 16, 2025
RE: Pertussis Exposure Notification
This letter is being sent to all members of the UC Davis community to inform you that you may have been exposed to whooping cough (pertussis) on campus. There have been several cases of pertussis reported on campus recently, with additional cases suspected.
Whooping cough, also called pertussis, is a bacterial infection that can spread through close contact when people with the disease cough. Symptoms can appear 5 to 21 days after exposure. It usually starts like a common cold (e.g., sneezing, runny nose, etc.) followed by a cough that gets worse over one to two weeks. People with whooping cough may have coughing spells in which they can’t catch their breath between coughs. Some may loudly gasp (“whoop”) and vomit or feel like they’re choking. There is usually no fever with whooping cough.
Whooping cough is very contagious. A vaccine given in childhood (DTaP) protects against whooping cough, but older children, teenagers, and adults who were completely immunized before they started kindergarten can get whooping cough because protection from the vaccine wears off over time. This is why a booster dose of vaccine, called Tdap, is recommended for those 10-18 years of age and for adults. If you haven’t had Tdap, it is recommended that you get it now. The Tdap vaccine is widely available at doctor’s offices, some pharmacies and is generally covered by most insurance plans. Students can access Tdap at the UC Davis Student Health & Wellness Center.
Antibiotics can prevent the spread of whooping cough and are recommended for those with whooping cough and also for some of the people who have had close contact with someone with whooping cough. Contacts who are at high risk of becoming very sick with whooping cough or who could infect someone at high risk should receive antibiotics to prevent whooping cough (post-exposure prophylaxis, or PEP), and should contact their healthcare provider. These contacts include babies less than one year of age, pregnant people in their third trimester, people who spend time with babies or pregnant people, and people who are immunocompromised or have moderate to severe lung disease.
If you have symptoms of whooping cough (see above), please stay away from others and contact a healthcare provider immediately for testing and treatment. A person with whooping cough is no longer contagious after taking 5 days of antibiotics.
Yolo County Public Health, in coordination with UC Davis Student Health, will continue to investigate pertussis infections on campus. Students with questions can call UC Davis Student Health at 530-752-2300. Faculty and staff should contact their healthcare provider or Yolo County Public Health at 530-666-8670.
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