N.J. school hit by outbreak of gastrointestinal illness
NJ.com••health
Key Points:
- A Camden County school reported a sharp increase in gastrointestinal illness among students, with at least 100 students reportedly affected as of Thursday.
- Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cramps, fever, and fatigue, and while most cases resolve quickly, severe dehydration is a risk if fluids are not replaced.
- The school has responded by increasing disinfecting efforts, excluding symptomatic students, and reinforcing hand hygiene practices to prevent further spread.
- Health officials emphasize that gastrointestinal illnesses are highly contagious and advise symptomatic individuals to stay home for at least 48 hours.
- The illness can spread through contaminated food, water, surfaces, or direct contact, with group settings like schools being particularly vulnerable to outbreaks.
