‘Stomach bug’ keeps kids at home

By Stephanie Prokop, Staff Writer
   BORDENTOWN TOWNSHIP — The Burlington County Health Department is investigating an outbreak of the stomach flu that took nearly one-fifth of students at the Peter Muschal Elementary School out of class last week.
   According to Jennifer Horner, an epidemiologist with the county health department, the illness that had plagued the school last week is commonly referred to as a “stomach bug.”
   On Friday, four specimens of vomit were sent to the Public Health and Environmental Laboratory in Trenton, which is part of the state Health Department.
   The symptoms are usually nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and fatigue, she said. The reason such a high percentage of the school’s population had been out is because the virus is highly contagious.
   Parents and guardians are urged to keep their students at home if they have any of these symptoms, said Ms. Horner, because the illness can come back again. “This is an important time for teachers and parents to remind their students that it’s very important to keep their hands washed after using the bathroom and before and after eating,” she said.
   The bug started spreading throughout the school early last week, said Ms. Horner, and that’s when the county health department was contacted.
   With approximately 75 students out sick on Friday, this is a significant chunk of the school’s approximate 550 students, she added.
   The silver lining is that this week, with students and teachers not being present on Tuesday, and out of school the rest of the week for teacher in-service days, the custodial staff plans to do a thorough job cleaning, she added.
   A bleach-based solution is being used to wipe down all hard surfaces, including restrooms, floors, door handles and school buses.