Rise in Cases of Pertussis

November 11, 2026

Dear Garden City School Community,
 
I am writing to share an important health update regarding an increase in confirmed cases of pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, in our school district.
 
As of today, we have 20 confirmed cases of pertussis across the district, 18 of which are at the High School. We want to ensure that families are informed and understand the steps we can take together to help prevent further spread.
 
Pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory infection. One of the challenges is that early symptoms often resemble a common cold, including a runny nose and mild cough. While pertussis is typically associated with a distinctive "whooping" cough, the symptoms we are seeing this year have not always followed that pattern. In some cases, students have experienced a deeper, chest-like cough rather than the traditional whooping sound.
 
We ask all families to be particularly attentive to symptoms and take the following precautions:

Monitor for symptoms. Even a mild cough or runny nose may be an early indication of pertussis. Please do not assume that the absence of a traditional whooping cough rules out an infection.    

Keep symptomatic children home. If your child is experiencing symptoms consistent with pertussis, please contact your healthcare provider for evaluation and testing. Students being evaluated for suspected pertussis should remain home while awaiting test results and should not return until they receive a negative result or are medically cleared.  

Follow treatment guidelines.  Students who test positive for pertussis must remain home until they have completed five full days of appropriate antibiotic treatment, as directed by their healthcare provider.  

We have attached a fact sheet from the New York State Department of Health with additional information about symptoms, transmission, treatment, and prevention. 

We recognize that news of additional cases may be concerning. Please know that the health and well-being of our students and staff remain our highest priorities. We appreciate your partnership in monitoring symptoms, keeping children home when appropriate, and helping us maintain a healthy school environment.
 
Thank you for your continued cooperation and support.

Sincerely,

Kusum

Kusum Sinha, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools