Local

Lake Orienta Elementary School students continue to get sick after 1 case of Shigella

By Roy Ramos
By Roy Ramos
The Seminole County school district is planning a deep cleaning of an elementary school after nearly 10 students may have gotten the same disease.
The district said there has only been one reported case of shigellosis at Lake Orienta Elementary School, yet parents reached out to Channel 9 and said they are still having to pick up their children with symptoms, weeks after the first case was reported.
“He has all the symptoms. Headaches, diarrhea, stomach pains,” said parent Dana Brownlee.
Brownlee pulled into the parking lot of the school Thursday afternoon to pick up her 8-year-old son who was sick, but it’s not the first time she has received a call from the school.
“He has been showing symptoms and I didn't really know what it was. He has missed a whole week of school,” Brownlee said.
In the last three weeks, nearly 10 children have been sent home. 
“We send in Clorox wipes weekly. I know that his teachers are very proactive with that, but obviously it is not working,” Brownlee said.
School district officials said first reported case, they've been working with the county health department to sanitize the school. 
Crews have been disinfecting touch points like water fountains, door handles, desks and chairs. 
In the morning and night, the district is using germ killing foggers that spray a hydrogen peroxide solution with hopes that it will kill the bacteria that may be sending children home sick
“He can't be missing a lot of school because third grade is really tough,” Brownlee said.
Aside from the deep cleaning, the district and the health department is urging students use soap and water when washing their hands to stop the illness from spreading.

Cox Media Group

Most Read