Dear Agawak Parents,

We have done our very best to ward off the whooping cough all summer long.  Up until today (6:35pm to be exact) we were whooping cough free. Although we have taken many campers into the clinic over the summer due to cold like symptoms, none have returned to camp with a positive diagnosis until this evening. We now have one positive case of pertussis. DO NOT PANIC! We have it ALL under control!

I have spoken to doctors and the Oneida County health nurse and we have come up with a solid plan in the event that there are more confirmed cases in the last 6 days left of camp.  The girls in the cabin of the confirmed case (including counselors) will all be treated with a Z-Pak.  These campers will be hanging out and doing activities together (separate from the rest of the camp) until Sunday morning so that we do not expose additional campers.  We will make sure they have an equally awesome time at camp and do not miss a beat.

We will email or call all parents whose daughter needs to be separated from the general camp population. If you do not receive a call from us that means our current situation does not affect your daughter.  There is a train of thought that everyone here should be placed on the Z-Pak however, for several important reasons, I have been advised that we should only treat campers with positive cases or those who have been in direct contact with the positive case camper. So many of my campers, who have been seen at the clinic throughout the summer, have had cold and cough like symptoms but have not tested positive and have not required a Z-Pak.  I have ordered numerous Z-Paks for campers displaying symptoms and they are on their way.  We will continue to monitor this situation very diligently and in doubt we will continue to take in any campers who are experiencing symptoms.

 Our goal is to send your daughter home to you as healthy and happy as we possibly can.  Please do your best to not overwhelm our phone lines.  Please do your best not to over react. Please help our situation not hinder it.  As always, I thank you for your support and cooperation.  I have no doubt in my mind that we will conquer this bump in the road together as we always have in the past. Sleep well.

Smile on,
Mary & Staff