My housemate has whooping cough. What should I do to prevent getting it too since it is contagious?

She was diagnosed yesterday, and has had flu-like symptoms for about 5 days now.

See your doctor. I think there is a shot you will have to get.

Yuck. Hope you're vaccinated, 'cause if you aren't you can get it and there isn't much you can do about it because you have already been exposed.

Call your physician and see what he/she suggests and quarantine yourself so you don't spread it.

You know the answer. Avoidance.
I criticize others who are afraid of getting sick, but then I'm afraid of getting sick, too. It's more of an academic issue that I don't want to get sick.

Professor's have little sympathy with an excuse.

If you live or have close contact with someone who has pertussis, you should take antibiotics to prevent pertussis 鈥?contact your health care provider.

Prevention
Whooping cough can be prevented with the pertussis vaccine, which is part of the DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis) immunization. DTaP immunizations are routinely given in five doses before a child's sixth birthday. To give additional protection in case immunity fades, the AAP now recommends that kids ages 11-18 get a booster shot of the new combination vaccine (called Tdap), ideally when they're 11 or 12 years old, instead of the Td booster routinely given at this age. As is the case with all immunization schedules, there are important exceptions and special circumstances. Your child's doctor will have the most current information.

Experts believe that up to 80% of nonimmunized family members will develop whooping cough if they live in the same house as someone who has the infection. For this reason, anyone who comes into close contact with a person who has pertussis should receive antibiotics to prevent spread of the disease. Young children who have not received all five doses of the vaccine may require a booster dose if exposed to an infected family member

take airshield or airborne vitamins
get her some bananas for coughin and boil steam with salt in it.
make the housemate drink warm vinegar water and gargle with salt.
keep your mate steer of carpets, animals, stuff animals, they cause the cough to get worser.
get some vicks vapor rub...stops cough fast