Shigellosis Outbreak In Area School Leads to 60 Absences

There are now two confirmed cases of Shigellosis at Tahoka elementary.

It started on Thursday when an unusual amount of students were absent.

Friday that number jumped to about 50 and today that number has increased to 60.'We have two confirmed cases of the shigellosis here," said Tahoka ISD Superintendent Steve Burleson.

He said it all started Thursday when they noticed an unusual number of absences.

Most of them students who walk through the Pre-K through 2^nd Grade hallway.

"We immediately started disinfecting our classrooms and the hallways the bathrooms everything that morning," said Burleson.

They started in the Pre-k through 2^nd  Grade areas since those were the students who were ill at home with the shigellosis symptoms, but they didn't stop there.

"After school was out that evening we went through top to bottom," he said, "and disinfected again just trying to make sure we had everything as clean as possible."

Burleson said Monday there were 60 empty desks.

"Our teachers are emphasizing wash their hands and the hand sanitizers are in the classrooms so everybody is emphasizing that."

According to the CDC it's important to scrub the back of your hand, between your fingers and under your nails.

They suggest doing this for 20 seconds and they say if you need a self timer its best to hum the "Happy Birthday" time beginning to end twice.

"We care for all their kids and we want them to be healthy and safe."

The three most common symptoms of shigellosis are fever, nausea and diarrhea.

Burleson said if your children are dealing with any of these symptoms its best to stay at home and visit a doctor as soon as possible.