300 Kids, 12 Teachers Fall Ill After Outbreak At Etobicoke School
Posted November 2, 2010 1:15 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Toronto Public Health is investigating a possible outbreak of a stomach virus at St. Gregory Catholic School.
The school posted a letter on its website about the problem.
According to parents, 300 students and 12 teachers have fallen ill.
Officials say the illness was likely caused by the Norwalk virus.
“Norwalk virus usually circulates in the winter or fall in Toronto,” said Dr. Michael Finkelstein of Toronto Public Health.
“We’ve heard from the lab that they are starting to see positive tests from the community. So we know it’s starting to circulate again.”
The school is being thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. Principal J. Cassidy has asked that ill students stay home for at least 48 hours after their symptoms disappear.
NORWALK VIRUS FACTS
Symptoms
Most individuals with norovirus infection will experience 1 to 3 days of:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Watery diarrhea
Other symptoms may include fever, headache, and stomach cramps. Severe illness or hospitalization is not common. Infected individuals usually recover within 2 to 3 days without serious or long-term health effects. Dehydration is the most common complication, especially among young children and the elderly.
If diarrhea is bloody, accompanied with a high fever or if the symptoms last longer than 72 hours contact your doctor. Your illness may be due to something other than norovirus.
How soon do the symptoms appear?
Symptoms usually appear in 1 to 2 days after exposure to the virus, but can appear as early as 10 hours after exposure.
When and for how long is a person able to spread norovirus?
A person who is ill with norovirus infection is able to spread the virus from the moment they start to feel ill up to 2 days after the diarrhea stops.
How can norovirus infection be prevented?
- Keep your hands clean. Wash hands often with soap and warm water after using the toilet, diapering and before preparing or eating food. If soap and water is not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with a minimum of 60% alcohol if hands are not visibly soiled. Thoroughly washing hands with soap and water is preferred to prevent the spread of norovirus.
- Do not prepare food for others if you have symptoms of vomiting or diarrhea.
- Thoroughly and frequently disinfect environmental surfaces and equipment with a chlorine bleach disinfectant, especially in areas that are touched often (e.g., telephones, door handles, gym equipment, bed side rails, etc.). A chlorine bleach solution of 1 part household bleach to 50 parts water can be made from 2 teaspoons of household bleach mixed with 2 cups of water.
- Anyone who is ill with diarrhea or vomiting should stay home from school, day nursery or work and should not return until being symptom-free for at least 48 hours. This is especially important for those who work with food, the elderly or at a hospital.
Is there a vaccine for norovirus?
No. There currently is no vaccine available in Canada to prevent norovirus infections.
Source: Toronto Public Health
Letter To Parents
November 1, 2010
Dear Parent(s)/Guardian(s):
This morning, Monday, November 1, a significant number of students are absent from school due to flu-like symptoms. As the morning has unfolded, we have had an additional number of students request to go home because of illness. Further, we have a number of staff members who are away because of very similar symptoms.
Due to the high absenteeism rate, Toronto Public Health has been contacted. It is anticipated that the Public Health Department will review the information provided to them. Any additional actions initiated by the Public Health Department will be fully supported within the school. As a precautionary step, the Toronto Catholic District School Board Health and Safety Department and the Maintenance Department have been notified as well.
Additional caretaking staff will be assigned to the school to ensure that a thorough cleaning and disinfection is done.
We thank all of our parents who have been very prompt in alerting the school of their children’s illness. We encourage families to keep their children at home if they are experiencing any flulike symptoms. As additional information for parents, after discussion with the Toronto Public Health Department, the direct recommendation of the health department is that the ill person should not return to school until 48 hours have passed after the conclusion of the last symptoms of the illness.
We would like to take this opportunity to remind our students of the critical importance of frequent and careful hand washing as one way to minimize the spreading of common viruses. Reminders of good health practices will be reviewed at school in all classrooms and we would encourage a similar review at home, especially during this time of the year.
We are hopeful that the situation experienced today will be an isolated circumstance which will not recur. As always, we will do everything possible to maintain timely communication with the parent community in the event of any further developments.
Respectfully,
J. Cassidy, Principal and R. Agostino, Vice Principal
