The Orange County Health Department has identified cases of whopping cough at Glenwood Elementary School, Chapel Hill – Carrboro City Schools officials confirmed Wednesday evening. Multiple outlets are reporting there are seven cases of whooping cough, or Pertussis, including six students.

The school district sent multiple letters to the school community: one schoolwide message about the whooping cough cases, and one to those who are thought to have been in close contact with an individual diagnosed with Pertussis.

“A few cases” of whooping cough were also diagnosed in Chapel Hill High School and East Chapel Hill High School in January 2018.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that whooping cough “usually starts with cold-like symptoms and maybe a mild cough or fever.”

As the disease progresses, symptoms evolve to fits of rapid coughs, vomiting and exhaustion.

The CDC also says the pertussis vaccine is beneficial and important to prevention.

Related Stories
‹
CHCCS School Board Dissolves Mandarin World Language, Creates Exception for Rising Fifth Graders
The Mandarin World Language option currently taught at Glenwood Elementary School will effectively end after its campus closes this summer.
CHCCS Superintendent Suggests Dissolving World Language Option as Glenwood Elementary Closes
Trice emailed Glenwood Elementary and Mary Scroggs Elementary School parents and staff on Monday, saying he reached the conclusion after considering the feedback gathered from stakeholders on both campuses and consulting enrollment data.
As Final Year Begins, Glenwood Elementary Families Feeling 'Powerless' After Closure and Program Votes
Monday's first day of class is bittersweet for Glenwood Elementary School families, who feel hurt by CHCCS leaders' decision to close its campus and change its program.
Glenwood Elementary's Mandarin Dual Language Program Moving to Rashkis; Questions Remain for World Language
The school board voted to relocate one of Glenwood Elementary School's Mandarin learning tracks to Rashkis. The other could go to Scroggs.
Glenwood Elementary School Parents on Their Concerns, the District's Presentation and Local Reaction to Closure – On Air Today (July 27, 2026)
Glenwood Elementary School parents Yehua Wei, Kayan Cheung-Miaw and Alex Jackson speak with 97.9 The Hill's Brighton McConnell on Monday, July 27.
The Morning News: Rani Dasi to County Commissioner, Mandarin Dual Language at CHCCS
In today's news: CHCCS board member Rani Dasi is nominated for an open seat on the Orange County Board of Commissioners.
With Closure Decision Made, CHCCS Leaders and Glenwood Elementary Community Try to Move Forward
Thursday’s vote by the CHCCS Board of Education ended months of speculation of which of three elementary schools may be discontinued.
CHCCS Board of Education Votes to Close Glenwood Elementary School, Protect Magnet Programs
Glenwood Elementary School will close in the fall of 2027, after the CHCCS Board of Education voted unanimously on Thursday night.
New Studies Suggest CHCCS Close 1 Elementary School, Address Capacity Issues Through Redistricting
CHCCS school board members heard a presentation about the deeper studies conducted on criteria for closure of any three elementary schools.
In Split Vote, CHCCS School Board Chooses 3 Elementary Schools to Study for Closure
After weeks of debate and waffling between which elementary schools to study, the CHCCS Board of Education made its choices last Thursday.
›