February 26, 8:55 P.M. UPDATE:

Northern Nevada Public Health has addressed the recent health outbreaks occurring in several schools across Washoe County.

Throughout the day, we have been actively seeking updates and discovered that the number of affected schools rose Wednesday afternoon, although the Washoe County School District later indicated a minor decline in the count on Wednesday evening.

As of 6:42 p.m. on Wednesday, outbreak status has been confirmed for four schools in the Washoe County area, a reduction from six reported earlier that day and five reported on Tuesday.

Among these, two schools are experiencing respiratory illness outbreaks, one is dealing with gastrointestinal issues, and one is facing challenges from both types of illnesses.

In addition, 20 classrooms are now classified as having outbreaks—15 reporting respiratory ailments and five netting gastrointestinal illnesses.

We have repeatedly inquired with the school district regarding the specific names of the affected schools; however, they have stated they cannot disclose this information at this time, citing HIPAA regulations. Nonetheless, Northern Nevada Public Health has confirmed that families at the impacted schools have been informed.

According to Liliana Wilbert, an epidemiologist at NNPH, “We cannot share specific information to protect the privacy of the schools and the families involved.”

Despite the lack of official comments, some individuals linked to the affected schools have contacted 2 News Nevada to indicate that their children’s schools are among those impacted.

In an email obtained by 2 News Nevada, parents at Van Gorder Elementary School were informed of a rise in student and staff absences due to symptoms including diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, fever, headaches, sore throats, coughs, muscle aches, and fatigue.

Another communication confirmed that a scheduled STEM Night at Van Gorder Elementary on Tuesday was called off and would be rescheduled due to the outbreak status.

Parents from Rollan Melton Elementary have reached out as well, reporting numerous cases of students experiencing gastrointestinal issues, with more than a dozen children sent home. While parents have reported illnesses at Rollan Melton, we have not yet received any formal acknowledgment from the district regarding its outbreak status.

The Washoe County School District affirms that if families haven’t received any notifications, their schools are not currently affected by an outbreak.

Wilbert mentioned that the prevalent respiratory illnesses include RSV, influenza, and other common flu-like ailments.

Northern Nevada Public Health is implementing clean-up protocols to tackle these illnesses, which include isolating affected individuals, sanitizing contaminated areas, and ensuring that sick students and staff are kept separate from others.

Wilbert advises that if your child starts displaying any symptoms of illness, they should stay at home.

To date, NNPH has reported 187 cases of RSV within the region, along with 36 hospitalizations due to influenza, and 19 flu-related deaths, two of which involved individuals under the age of 24.

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FEBRUARY 26, 3:15 P.M. UPDATE:

The Washoe County School District has acknowledged a rise in both the number of schools and classrooms currently under outbreak status.

On Wednesday afternoon, the district revealed that there are now six schools and 20 classrooms facing outbreak conditions, an increase from five schools and 19 classrooms reported on Tuesday.

Of the six schools, one is experiencing outbreaks of both respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses, two schools are facing gastrointestinal issues alone, and three are dealing solely with respiratory ailments.

Among the 20 classrooms, 15 are under outbreak status for respiratory illnesses, while five are categorized under gastrointestinal illnesses.

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ORIGINAL ARTICLE:

A number of schools and classrooms within the Washoe County School District are currently classified as having outbreaks as of Tuesday.

Reports indicate that five schools and 19 classrooms are under outbreak status, according to statements from a WCSD spokesperson.

One school is facing outbreaks related to both respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses, while two schools are reported to have respiratory issues and another two are addressing gastrointestinal illnesses.

Of the 19 classrooms identified as having outbreaks, 15 are due to respiratory illnesses and four to gastrointestinal ailments.

The district has not shared specific details regarding the names of the affected schools or classrooms.