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Hunt School ISD
Hunt School ISD
A flu outbreak affecting more than 50 students and staff prompted the closure Tuesday of the Hunt Independent School District’s lone campus in western Kerr County, with plans to reopen Thursday after a top-to-bottom cleaning of the school.
The flu outbreak at the school that serves 169 kids in grades pre-K through 8th began on Friday, noted Superintendent Crystal Dockery, and 29 students were absent due to illness on Monday.
“Today we were at 40 (sick students) when we took attendance, and we had seven additional ones in our office by 9:45 a.m.,” said Dockery on Tuesday.
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She decided at 10 a.m. Tuesday to close the school early after consulting with a physician, she said, noting the flu also hit five of the campus’ 31 staffers. The last kid was picked up about 11 a.m.
High fever, vomiting and flu symptoms were seen in those taken ill, most of whom were diagnosed with the Type B flu strain.
“I know of one student who had a temperature of 104.5,” Dockery said, noting another student was diagnosed as being infected with both Type A and Type B strains.
Maintenance workers quickly got busy cleaning all areas of the vacant school Tuesday afternoon with disinfectant, and its HVAC system was infused with a microbial treatment that will circulate in the air.
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Dockery plans to reopen The Hunt School on Thursday, but urged parents not to send back their kids until they are fever-free for at least 48 hours.
“If they have the flu, they shouldn’t be back until Monday,” said Dockery who, after taking Friday and Monday off, was feeling healthy on Tuesday.
zeke@express-news.net
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