What's Going Around?

MARCH 7, 3:38 P.M. UPDATE:

The newest outbreak numbers have been provided by the Washoe County School District.

As of 3:24 p.m. on Friday, there continue to be eight full schools on outbreak - the status doesn't appear to have changed from yesterday, with four schools having respiratory illness, two having gastrointestinal illness, and two schools dealing with both.

The number of classrooms under outbreak has gone down to a total of 18 - with 12 classrooms having respiratory illnesses, three suffering gastrointestinal illnesses, and three classrooms dealing with rashes from hand, foot and mouth disease.

An update from NNPH, and the latest updated WCSD numbers.

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MARCH 6, 5:40 P.M. UPDATE:

Updated outbreak numbers from the Washoe County School District show that the number of schools on outbreak status has remained steady, while the number of classrooms has decreased by one.

There are currently eight schools and 20 classrooms on outbreak status.

Four of the schools on outbreak status are dealing with respiratory illness, two with gastrointestinal illness, and two with both.

Meanwhile, 12 classrooms are reporting respiratory illness, while five are reporting gastrointestinal, and three are reporting hand, foot, and mouth disease.

Updated outbreak numbers from the Washoe County School District show that the number of schools on outbreak status has remained steady, while the number of classrooms has decreased by one.

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MARCH 5, 3:15 P.M. UPDATE:

The Washoe County School District has released updated numbers concerning schools and classrooms in the district on outbreak status.

As of 2:45 p.m. on Wednesday, there are eight schools on outbreak status and 21 classrooms.

Of the eight schools on outbreak status, two are reporting respiratory and gastrointestinal illness, two are reporting only gastrointestinal illness, and four are reporting respiratory illness.

Of the classrooms, 13 are reporting respiratory illness, five are reporting gastrointestinal illness, and three are reporting hand, foot, and mouth disease.

The Washoe County School District is reporting eight schools on outbreak status and 21 individual classrooms.

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MARCH 4, 2:56 P.M. UPDATE:

The Washoe County School District has sent out updated outbreak numbers for today.

As of 2:45 p.m., they are reporting 8 whole schools on outbreak; four for respiratory illnesses, two for gastrointestinal illnesses, and two schools suffering both.

20 classrooms are in outbreak status, with 13 classrooms suffering respiratory illness, four dealing with gastrointestinal illness, and three classrooms still dealing with hand, foot and mouth rashes.

MARCH 3, 2:52 P.M. UPDATE:

Updated outbreak numbers have been reported by the Washoe County School District. As of 2:30 p.m. today, they are reporting a total of seven whole schools on outbreak status: three for respiratory issues only, two for gastrointestinal issues only, and two for respiratory and gastrointestinal issues.

The number of classrooms in outbreak status remains at 21, with 14 classrooms suffering respiratory illnesses, four suffering gastrointestinal issues and three suffering rashes due to hand, foot and mouth disease.

The district recommends that all families and staff use the WCSD Screening Tool before coming to school - you can find that on the WCSD website.

Seven schools are listed in outbreak status, as well as 21 classrooms.

FEBRUARY 28, 3:16 P.M. UPDATE:

The Washoe County School District reported updated numbers on Friday afternoon, stating that as of 2:45 p.m., the district increased to six schools on outbreak status, and although there was a decrease to 22 classrooms in total, three of those classrooms are now on outbreak status for a rash known as Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease.

Five schools were initially reported on Tuesday before the number jumped to six on Wednesday afternoon, was dropped to four Wednesday night, and then back up to five on Thursday.

On Friday afternoon the district announced that there are now six schools and 22 individual classrooms on outbreak status.

Of the six schools, two are on outbreak status for respiratory and gastrointestinal illness, one is for gastrointestinal only, and three are for respiratory only.

The Washoe County School District says before arriving at school, all staff members and families should use the WCSD Screening Tool at WashoeSchools.net/SelfScreening.

Families of impacted classrooms or schools get direct notifications and are advised to adhere to outbreak-specific instructions from NNPH and the school.

For more information, visit:  WashoeSchools.net/StudentHealth.

The district offered some tips for families:

  • If you're not feeling well, stay at home.
  • Handwashing should be done often.
  • Use your elbow to cover your cough.

FEBRUARY 27, 3:20 P.M. UPDATE:

The Washoe County School District is reporting a return to five schools on outbreak status and an increase to 23 classrooms.

Five schools were initially reported on Tuesday before the number jumped to six on Wednesday afternoon and was dropped to four Wednesday night.

On Thursday afternoon the district announced that there are now five schools and 22 individual classrooms on outbreak status.

Of the five schools, two are on outbreak status for respiratory and gastrointestinal illness, one for gastrointestinal only, and two are for respiratory only. 

FEBRUARY 27, 6:25 A.M. UPDATE:

Northern Nevada Public Health is speaking out on the recent outbreaks in multiple Washoe County schools.

We've been trying to get answers and learned the number of schools impacted increased on Wednesday afternoon before the Washoe County School District reported a slight decrease on Wednesday night.

As of 6:42 p.m. on Wednesday four Washoe County schools are on outbreak status, down from six reported Wednesday afternoon and five reported on Tuesday.

Two are dealing with respiratory illness outbreaks, one with gastrointestinal, and one is dealing with both.

An additional 20 classrooms are now in outbreak status. 15 of them for respiratory and five for gastrointestinal illnesses.

We've been pressing the school district all day, but they tell us they will not release the names of the schools affected at this time. Northern Nevada Public Health tells us that's due to HIPAA policies. However, they say the families of the schools impacted have been notified.

Liliana Wilbert, an epidemiologist for NNPH, says, "In order to protect the confidentiality of the schools and the families that are impacted we do not share that type of information."

However, some of those affiliated with affected schools have reached out to 2 News Nevada to share that schools attended by their children have been affected.

An email obtained by 2 News Nevada that was sent to parents at Van Gorder Elementary School said that the school has seen an increase in the number of students and staff members who have been absent or sent home due to diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, fever, headache, sore throat, cough, muscle aches, and fatigue.

Another email obtained by 2 News Nevada confirms that a STEM Night planned for Van Gorder Elementary on Tuesday was canceled and will be rescheduled due to the school being placed on outbreak status.

Parents at Rollan Melton Elementary reached out to 2 News Nevada about multiple instances of children suffering gastrointestinal issues, with more than a dozen said to have been sent home. While parents have reported illness at Rollan Melton, we have not been able to obtain any notice from the district formally naming it as a school on outbreak status.

The Washoe County School District wants to make it clear that if families have not heard from them about their schools, then that means those schools are not impacted by an outbreak.

Wilbert says right now the respiratory illnesses they are seeing are RSV, influenza, and general influenza-like illnesses that are more commonly reported.

Northern Nevada Public Health is practicing its clean-up procedures for these illnesses. That includes removing all nearby individuals, cleaning and sanitizing contaminated areas, and keeping sick students and staff away from others.

Wilbert says if your child is starting to show any symptoms of illnesses they should stay at home.

So far, region-wide and not limited to schools, NNPH is reporting there are 187 RSV cases reported, 36 hospitalizations due to flu, and 19 deaths due to flu, two of those deaths being under the age of 24.

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FEBRUARY 26, 3:15 P.M. UPDATE:

The Washoe County School District is reporting an increase in the number of schools and classrooms on outbreak status.

On Wednesday afternoon the district announced that there are now six schools and 20 individual classrooms on outbreak status, up from five and 19 on Tuesday.

Of the six schools, one is on outbreak status for respiratory and gastrointestinal illness, two are for gastrointestinal only, and three are for respiratory only.

Of the 20 classrooms, 15 are on outbreak status for respiratory illness and five are for gastrointestinal illness.

Several Washoe County schools and classrooms have been put on outbreak status. but HIPAA policy prevents revealing which ones.

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ORIGINAL ARTICLE:

Several schools and classrooms within the Washoe County School District are on outbreak status as of Tuesday.

Five entire schools and 19 classrooms are currently on outbreak status according to a WCSD spokesperson.

One of the schools is on outbreak status for both respiratory and gastrointestinal illness while there are two on outbreak status for respiratory illness and two for gastrointestinal illness.

Of the 19 classrooms listed on outbreak status, 15 are for respiratory illness and four are for gastrointestinal illness.

Details on the specific schools and classrooms on outbreak status were not provided by the School District.

A parent at Van Gorder Elementary shared an email saying students and staff at the school were experiencing illness. Multiple parents reported illnesses at Rollan Melton.