Community Chat

[Mindy D]

Mesa County Valley School Schools District in Colorado has closed down all schools due to two rapidly spreading,very contagious illnesses. The shut down of the entire district due to illness is unpresedented. The shut down will affect 22,000 students. Custodial crews will be working to give the schools a thorough cleaning and disinfecting. The district’s superintendent and district’s nursing supervisor’s statements can be seen here on the district’s website. According to the site, the onset of both illnesses includes vomiting and in the case of the second illness, also includes fever. 

In a quote from the site, the Nursing Coordinator, Tanya Martin, said:
 “We are taking this highly unusual action because this virus is extremely contagious and spreading quickly across our schools. In addition, it appears that there is now a second, related virus that is affecting students, some of whom have already been ill in recent weeks. The combination of the two has created an unprecedented spread of illness.”

http://d51schools.org/

[VegasBusinessWoman]

@Mindy D Wow!  The illness causing all the trouble isn't named.  Do they know what it is? 😲

[Mindy D]

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@VegasBusinessWoman wrote:

@Mindy D Wow!  The illness causing all the trouble isn't named.  Do they know what it is? 😲

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They have not said yet. I’m guessing there’s norovirus involved, but it’s just a guess. According to a post on Facebook the Mesa County Public Health Department is taking samples for testing to determine the infectious agent. 

[cowboy sam]

@Mindy D 

Agree!

It's the right thing to do..and hope it doesn't spread to other places.

[ValuSkr]

This is from CBS Denver:

"Mesa County Public Health believes norovirus is to blame for the sick students and staff. The primary symptoms are vomiting and diarrhea."

Students and staff will return to school after Thanksgiving.

[Azcowgirl]

DH and I had the stomach flu last week, and both of us have never had such a violent awful horrible bug. Took me a week to start feeling like myself again. 
It is making the rounds, extremely contagious. 🤢

[golding76]

I had it recently, too.  Never before had such a brutal "trot fairy" like that visit me.

[Kachina624]

FYI: This would be Grand Junction, Colorado, where the Enstrom's toffee is made.  Very nice town out in the middle of nowhere.

[Mindy D]

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@ValuSkr wrote:

This is from CBS Denver:

"Mesa County Public Health believes norovirus is to blame for the sick students and staff. The primary symptoms are vomiting and diarrhea."

Students and staff will return to school after Thanksgiving

Common Norovirus symptoms can include vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, stomach ache and less commonly fever, headache and body aches. One way it can be spread by is by touching surfaces that other infected persons have touched. Another mode of transmission is through direct contact with an infected person. It can also be caused by consumption of contaminated water or food.