‘Gastrointestinal outbreak’ probe shutters Alabama school: Nearly 800 students absent

State health officials are investigating a “gastrointestinal outbreak” at an Alabama elementary school that announced it was closing through Friday after nearly 800 students were absent on Wednesday.

Fairhope West Elementary School had 50 staff and 773 students absent on Wednesday, Baldwin County Public Schools spokeswoman Chasity Riddick told AL.com. She cautioned that not all student absences were due to sickness and parents were told Tuesday that absences would be excused Wednesday if they wanted to keep their children home. It was not clear exactly how many students were ill.

The symptoms of viral gastrointestinal illness began showing up at the school Tuesday and ramped up overnight. By Wednesday morning, school staff became ill, Riddick said.

Baldwin County Schools Superintendent Eddie Tyler sent this message to parents:

“After careful consideration, we have decided to close Fairhope West through Friday, March 1,” Tyler wrote. “Due to the amount of staff and students who are absent, the number who are experiencing symptoms, and in an effort to help contain the contagion, we unfortunately need to shut the building down. While out, we will be conducting a deep cleaning of the school so when students return next week, it will be sanitized to the fullest extent. We understand the inconvenience this may cause and thank you for your understanding.”

The Alabama Department of Health could not be reached by AL.com, but ADPH officials told the station that symptoms including vomiting and nausea are tied to the incident.

The agency’s Infectious Diseases and Outbreak staff gave specimen collection materials for testing through the department’s Bureau of Clinical Laboratories.

Fairhope East Elementary has also been affected, but to a lesser extent.

A letter to parents there from Principal Christina Stacey said Fairhope East is “continuing to monitor the situation with the virus affecting many of us and those around us.

“I would like for you to strongly consider, if you can, keeping your student home for the rest of the week. Absences will be excused and schoolwork will be allowed to be made up,” Stacey wrote.

“This is only a suggestion at this point, but it comes on the heels of Fairhope West being shut down. Like them, we are trying to keep the contagion low.”