Mystery Outbreak in Virginia High School as Nearly Half of Student Population Are out Sick Due to Flu-Like Symptoms

Officials announced that almost half of the student population in a Virginia high school was absent on Friday, October 21, as they suffered from flu-like or gastrointestinal symptoms. The source of the mystery outbreak is now being investigated. 

Around 1,000 students were absent from Stafford High School in Fredericksburg, Virginia, on Friday, according to NBC News. Sandra Osborn, the chief communications officer for Stafford County Public Schools, said that many sick students reported flu-like and gastrointestinal symptoms.

That is nearly half of the high school's population of 2,100 students. Osborn said that Stafford High School is open on Monday, and they are reassessing conditions this morning. According to the district, deep cleaning and disinfecting of the high school were performed over the weekend.

Stafford High School cancels school-related activities following outbreak

According to Osborn, the number of absences due to the mystery illness is not seen in other schools in the district. According to Stafford High School's Facebook page, it decided to cancel all school-related activities and athletics over the weekend following the reported high number of student and staff illnesses this week.

The district said in an update on Monday that 670 students were not able to attend school, and all sports and activities after school will be canceled through Tuesday. The district added in a statement that among the things that officials are investigating were water fountains and meal services at the school, but they do not believe there is a connection between either of those services and these illnesses.

According to the update, the school will continue to clean each day vigorously until student attendance returns to normal. The investigation, conducted by the district, the Rappahannock Area Health Department, and the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), has identified several high school students who tested positive for influenza.

The update said that they also see a pattern of gastrointestinal symptoms, which may be due to the flu or a separate illness. The VDH issued a recommendation to keep schools open and to continue mitigation measures.

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Health district says source of illness not yet determined

The Rappahannock Area Health District released a statement on Monday, saying that the source of the illness has not yet been determined, and until they get more information, they cannot conclude.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an early increase in seasonal flu activity has been reported in most of the United States, with the country's south-central and southeast regions reporting the highest levels of flu as of Friday nationwide.

Other school districts in the U.S. have also reported an uptick in flu-like symptoms among their students. At least two high schools in the San Diego Unified School District had high rates of absences this month. A school spokesperson told CNN that one school recorded about 1,000 absences out of 2,600 students.

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