Posted by: thepinetree on 01/24/2008 03:51 PM
Updated by: Kim_Hamilton on 01/24/2008 11:07 PM
Expires: 01/01/2013 12:00 AM
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Calaveras County Public Health Department is Reporting a Gastrointestinal Illness Outbreak~From Suzanne Whitley
San Andreas, CA...The Public Health Department, in consultation with Calaveras Unified School District (CUSD) officials, is investigating an unusually high number of ill students at Mokelumne Hill and Rail Road Flat Elementary Schools. The reported symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea are consistent with a gastrointestinal virus. Late last week, upon receiving a report from the school district nurse, public health officials immediately began investigating why a large number of students were ill. “We found symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea, which are consistent with a viral gastrointestinal illness,” said Dean Kelaita, M.D., Calaveras County Health Officer. “The virus causes sudden onset of vomiting and stomach cramps,” added Kelaita. “Symptoms may include diarrhea...
fever, headache, and body aches which usually last for 8 hours but may continue for up to 2 days,” continued Kelaita.
Health officials acknowledge that no particular source has been identified at this time. No serious complications or hospitalizations have been reported in affected persons. A possible source of the illness is contamination of prepared foods by an infected or ill food service worker or from person to person contact. To date, no district food service workers have reported ill. Staff from the county’s Environmental Health Department also conducted a site visit of the district’s cafeteria at which food is prepared and visited Mokelumne Hill Elementary School’s cafeteria. Environmental health staff did not find any safety breaches in food preparation practices.
Families are advised to follow these steps to prevent the spread of gastrointestinal illness at home and the community:
• Keep all children home from school or day care if they have vomiting or diarrhea.
• Students and adults should stay home from school or work for at least 48 hours after symptoms stop.
• Use good hand washing. Help young children wash their hands after going to the bathroom including using a hand sanitizer to assure very young children’s hands are clean.
• Use a household disinfectant to thoroughly clean any areas where vomiting and diarrhea occurs.
Health officials recommend rest and plenty of fluids to help speed recovery for persons experiencing illness with these symptoms. Tylenol may be given for fever but aspirin
should not be given to children with fever. “If you or your child are unable to keep down fluids, experience dehydration or serious diarrhea, you should seek medical care from a physician, clinic or emergency room,” stated Dr. Kelaita.
“Health officials are continuing investigations and working directly with school officials and medical providers to identify the source of infection and prevent the further spread of the illness,” said Jeanne M. Boyce, Director, Calaveras County Health Services Agency. “We appreciate the school district staff’s cooperation in implementing health protection measures that will help prevent more illness in the community, said Boyce.
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