Rash reports wane in Dennis

April 4, 2002

Wixon school officials say fewer than 10 students broke out with the mystery

ailment yesterday.

By K.C. MYERS

STAFF WRITER

SOUTH DENNIS - The rash seems to be fading at the iel H. Wixon Middle

School.

There were fewer than 10 new cases yesterday of the itchy affliction that

has sent scores of children home in the past few days and remains a mystery

to health officials nationwide.

That's not bad compared to Monday when several dozen were dismissed. Last

Wednesday, 48 of the 725 students got the rash, prompting the school

superintendent to close the building on Thursday to have the place

thoroughly disinfected and tested for environmental toxins.

Testing of the air, water, bacteria, mold, and mildew levels found nothing

out of the ordinary.

Therefore, Supt. Tony Pierantozzi has decided to keep the building open.

Many parents continue to keep their children out of school. Monday more than

100 students were absent. School principal Fitzsimmons reported a

high-number of absentees yesterday as well in a press release.

This rash has been reported in schools in 14 states nationwide since

October. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta has

studied the outbreaks without finding any cause. In all cases, the rash does

go away in two weeks to two months, the CDC reported. It poses no serious

health threat.

" Not many kids got it in class today, " said Vendola, a

seventh-grader.

She said anyone with the rash was sent to the auditorium for the day to stay

isolated from the other students.

" I agree with the superintendent's decision to keep school open, " said her

mother, Janet Vendola. " If you keep them home, you miss so much work. It's

so hard to catch up. "

Recommended Posts