GAYLORD, Minn. - Dozens of students and a handful of teachers missed school Wednesday in Gaylord.
Mari Lu Martens, principal at Sibley East, says 178 elementary and junior high students and 11 staff members were all out sick Wednesday. Martens told KARE 11 kids started getting sick Tuesday afternoon and it got worse Wednesday morning.
Flu-like symptoms, including vomiting and diarrhea, have been common in those who got sick.
There is no word yet what caused this. The state health department is investigating.
On Wednesday, school officials sent a letter to the families of children who attend Sibley East School Gaylord Campus. The letter states the school would take the following precautionary actions:
• Restricting the sharing of foods brought from student's/staff's homes
• Restricting students passing/sharing of any communal food items/snacks in the classrooms or elsewhere. Instead, the teacher will hand out items to be shared after washing his/her hands
• Temporarily stop using self-service foods for school breakfast/lunch (students will not serve themselves)
• Redouble our efforts to promote hand washing prior to every snack or meal
Officials also urged anyone with questions or concerns to contract the Minnesota Department of Health at 507-344-2717 or at 1-877-676-5414.
(Copyright 2012 KARE. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)