Detroit School Closes for Deep Cleaning After Mysterious Illness Outbreak, Death of Kindergartener

Photo: WDIV

Public health officials in Detroit are investigating an outbreak of an unidentified illnesses after a kindergartner died at an elementary and middle school.

According to theAssociated Press, the Detroit Public Schools Community District said Wednesday that the school, Marcus Garvey Academy, “has experienced an unusually high rate of flu-like symptoms including student fevers, and vomiting, namely at the early grade levels.”

The Detroit Health Department saidin a statementthat it has not confirmed the cause of the illnesses.

The statement also told parents and caregivers to be on the lookout for several symptoms, including fever, headache, lethargy, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain, among children ages 4 to 7.

The school will be closed until Monday for deep cleaning.

It isn’t uncommon for an unknown illness to quicklyspread through a school, especially now that general vaccination rates havedeclined for two straight years.

Fewer vaccinated children can lead to community outbreaks of preventable illnesses,including measlesand other serious illnesses.

source: people.com