The Del Mar Union School District announced the cancelation of classes at Sage Canyon School after numerous children and staff members were struck by an illness believed to be norovirus.
In a letter sent to parents on Thursday, the district said:
Dear Sage Canyon Parents,
As you may know, multiple students and staff members at Sage Canyon School came down with nausea and vomiting yesterday due to a suspected virus. To prevent further spread of this suspected virus, Sage Canyon School will be closed on Friday, May 27, 2016. If you have children in the After School Program, we are requesting you pick your child up as soon as possible. The After School Program will remain open until 6:00pm today or until every child is picked up.
The Del Mar Union School District is working closely with the County of San Diego Public Health Department to support their efforts to identify the source of the outbreak. District staff, with support from the County and experts contracted through the San Diego County Office of Education, will be thoroughly disinfecting and sanitizing the campus, from classrooms to common areas, including air filters, hard surfaces, and carpets. Sage Canyon School will reopen on Tuesday, May 31, after the Memorial Day holiday.
Although not confirmed, it is suspected that students and staff may be infected with norovirus, a virus that causes a gastrointestinal illness that typically lasts for 1?3 days. Such viruses usually resolve without treatment, although it is important to stay hydrated if you are ill with symptoms of vomiting or diarrhea.
Gastrointestinal viruses are easily spread from person?to?person through direct contact with someone who is ill. To prevent further spread of illness among students and staff, we are requesting that anyone ill with vomiting and/or diarrhea stay home until they have no symptoms for at least 48 hours. Frequent handwashing with liquid soap and warm water, especially after using the restroom, is very important to limit person-to-person transmission.
If your child has seen a healthcare provider or is presently having diarrhea and you are willing to submit a stool specimen for testing (free of charge), please contact the County of San Diego Public Health Department at Epi.HHSA@sdcounty.ca.gov.
More information about the symptoms and prevention of gastrointestinal viruses may be found at the following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention norovirus website: http://www.cdc.gov/norovirus/index.html. If you have a question that is not answered by the CDC website, you may can contact the HHSA Epidemiology Program at 619-692-8499 during normal working hours.
Sincerely,
Holly McClurg, Ph.D.
Superintendent
