Quakertown district reports 9 new cases of rash

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From The Morning Call

Quakertown district reports 9 new cases of rash

By Dalondo Moultrie

Of The Morning Call

February 13, 2002

Nine new cases of Quakertown Community School District's ongoing rash showed

up across the district Tuesday, the same day results from six blood tests

for fifth disease came back negative.

Nine students and teachers from the school district were tested for fifth

disease, a viral illness that begins with a low-grade fever, headache, and a

stuffy or runny nose. The symptoms pass, but six to 11 days later, a rash

appears.

All persons have tested negative so far.

Trumbauersville Elementary School had its first confirmed cases of the rash

Tuesday. Officials recorded five there.

Quakertown Elementary School had two new cases. One case popped up at both

Strayer Middle and Quakertown Community Senior High schools.

Doctors at St. Luke's Quakertown Hospital will continue to test blood

samples of the nine students previously tested for fifth disease, said

Pattie Stinner, hospital spokeswoman.

" We're going to run one more sensitive test, " she said.

Physicians began checking people who had the rash after environmental

testing at Richland and Quakertown elementary schools turned up no apparent

cause for the outbreak.

More than 125 students complained of itchy, red skin in Quakertown district

schools in the past two weeks.

Students in other school districts have complained of similar symptoms.

Spring-Ford Area Intermediate School in Royersford, Montgomery County, where

98 students complained last week about the rash, was closed on Monday. All

schools in that district were open Tuesday.

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