School Asks Parents To Keep Sick Children Home
October 12, 2004
CLOVERDALE, Ind. — Health officials this week declared a shigellosis outbreak in southern Putnam and northern Owen counties after six cases were confirmed and 24 other people showed signs of having the disease.
The first case, noticed last week, involved a Cloverdale kindergartner. Symptoms of the contagious disease are diarrhea, vomiting, fever and stomach cramps.
In some shigellosis patients, especially children and senior citizens, diarrhea can lead to hospitalization, according to the Web site of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Symptoms usually conclude within a week.
After learning that people had the disease, many areas inside Cloverdale Elementary School were washed with a bleach solution, said the school’s principal, Susan Schwartz.
Shigellosis is caused by shigella bacteria, which can live on surfaces for four days.
The school has told students to wash their hands thoroughly to prevent the spread of the disease. Health officials have asked area restaurants to urge the same, Staying Healthy’s Stacia Matthews reported.
In a letter, the school asked parents to keep their children home if they suspect they are sick.