Last week North Canton Elementary School postponed a school dance on Friday, September 11th due to a high number of students and some staff members with gastrointestinal symptoms. At that time the school sent a note home to parents. The school also followed up with a voice message to parents at North Canton with directions for students and staff with GI symptoms to stay home for 24 hours after all GI symptoms and fever have ended.
Symptoms of the illness may begin 12-24 hours after exposure and may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain or cramping, and low grade fever (100.4 F) that last 24-72 hours. Transmission of infection is person-to-person contact and a person can transmit the illness even after the symptoms have subsided.
By Tuesday, September 15th the GI illness had not diminished at the school. The school notified the public health nurse and the school district office to examine the situation and develop a plan to address the matter. The frequency of disinfecting surfaces and door knobs was increased. Buses were also put on a daily schedule to disinfect bus surfaces.
“The Haywood County Health and Human Services Agency has been working closely with North Canton Elementary and the Haywood County Schools’ administrative staff on this situation” said Patrick Johnson, R.N. “Our goal is to stop the spread of the illness. Spread of infection can be decreased significantly by simple precautions.” The precautions recommended by public health officials include:
- Wash your hands with soap and water. The best way to prevent the spread of a gastrointestinal illness is to wash your hands frequently with soap and water, 20 seconds or more each time. Unfortunately, hand gels and foams do not work as well. Please make sure to always wash your hands after using the restroom and before and after meals.
- Clean and disinfect all contaminated surfaces. Use a disinfectant with chlorine bleach at a concentration of 1/3 cup of household bleach per gallon of water. Please remember to wipe down common surfaces such as cell phones, TV controllers, doorknobs, and light switches.
- Immediately remove and wash thoroughly any clothing or linens contaminated by an ill person. Wash laundry items with detergent on the longest cycle and machine dry them.
- If you have symptoms, we ask that you please remain home until 48 hours after the symptoms have subsided. This is to prevent further transmission of the illness.
Belinda Trantham, principal at North Canton Elementary said, “Public health officials have told us that the most important way to stop the spread of infection is good hand washing and proper cleaning techniques. We appreciate parent, student and staff efforts in decreasing the spread of this infection by following the precautions listed above.”
“Our maintenance staff is also working to disinfect buses that are shared with other schools” said, Dr. Anne Garrett, superintendent. “We also want people to stay home for 48 hours after the symptoms have stopped. When this first started we ask people to stay home 24 hours. To be extra cautious we are asking that it be 48 hours after the symptoms have ended.”
“We are also recommending that other schools monitor attendance and report any GI related absences to their school nurse and the district office” said, Bill Nolte, associate superintendent. “We also recommend that everyone pay attention to and follow the precautions provided by our public health officials.”
Contact:
Dr. Bill Nolte, Associate Superintendent
Belinda Trantham, North Canton Principal