Gastrointestinal Outbreak Shuts Down Alabama Elementary School
In a shocking turn of events, Fairhope West Elementary School in Alabama has been forced to close its doors due to a gastrointestinal outbreak. State health officials are currently investigating the situation, which prompted nearly 800 students to be absent on Wednesday. With 50 staff members and 773 students missing, the school decided it was best to shut down until Friday.
While not all absences were attributed to sickness, the symptoms of viral gastrointestinal illness began appearing on Tuesday and rapidly escalated overnight. Even school staff members fell ill by Wednesday morning, leaving no choice but to close the school temporarily. Baldwin County Public Schools spokeswoman, Chasity Riddick, stated that the exact number of affected students is still unclear.
Superintendent Eddie Tyler expressed his concerns in a message to parents, stating, “After careful consideration, we have decided to close Fairhope West through Friday, March 1. Due to the amount of staff and students who are absent, the number who are experiencing symptoms, and in an effort to help contain the contagion, we unfortunately need to shut the building down.” Tyler assured parents that the school would undergo a thorough cleaning during the closure to ensure a sanitized environment upon students’ return.
The Alabama Department of Health has been involved in the investigation, although they could not be reached for comment. Officials from the agency revealed that symptoms such as vomiting and nausea are associated with the outbreak. In order to determine the cause of the illness, the Infectious Diseases and Outbreak staff provided specimen collection materials for testing through the department’s Bureau of Clinical Laboratories.
Fairhope East Elementary School has also been affected by the outbreak, albeit to a lesser extent. Principal Christina Stacey sent a letter to parents urging them to consider keeping their children at home for the rest of the week. Stacey emphasized that absences would be excused and students would have the opportunity to make up any missed schoolwork. The school is taking precautionary measures to minimize the spread of the virus, following in the footsteps of Fairhope West.
The closure of Fairhope West Elementary School has undoubtedly caused inconvenience for parents and disruption to students’ education. However, the decision to prioritize the health and safety of the school community is commendable. By conducting a thorough cleaning and implementing preventive measures, the school aims to minimize the contagion and ensure a healthy learning environment upon reopening.
As the investigation into the gastrointestinal outbreak continues, it is crucial for parents and students to remain vigilant and follow the guidance provided by health officials. By working together and taking necessary precautions, the community can overcome this unfortunate incident and return to normalcy.
