‘Armageddon’: Las Vegas School Had Dozens Vomiting In Halls
It’s okay to feel a little queasy before a big test. But for the students at Wayne N. Tanaka Elementary School near Maule and Quarterhorse in the southwest Las Vegas valley, it wasn’t a test. It was something far worse.
Clark County School District said that last week, a gastrointestinal illness spread through the Las Vegas school like wildfire, leaving several dozen (8 News Now reports it at near 130) kids throwing up in barrels lined up in classrooms and hallways.
In news interviews, some parents recalled their children’s harrowing accounts of the mass sickening. One child said their 20 student class was down to about 10 by the end of the day.
Tanaka Elementary Tony Davis had this to say in a letter to parents:
Dear Tanaka Parents/Guardians,
As always, we want to keep you informed of important issues happening within our school community.
The Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD) is investigating the cause of the gastrointestinal illnesses reported by several of the students at Tanaka. We are currently working with the Clark County School District Health Services Department and SNHD on implementing measures to prevent further illness.
Gastrointestinal viruses are common and easily spread from person-to-person. Symptoms usually develop 12 to 48 hours after being exposed to the virus. Most people will get better within one to three days without medical treatment. Young children, older adults, and people with other medical conditions may be at higher risk for complications, such as dehydration. The most common symptoms include nausea, stomach pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. Additional symptoms may include fever, headache, and body aches.
Davis went on to describe the best ways to clean surfaces and hands to ensure the spread of the illness doesn’t continue.
