Mystery Virus Hits Central Puerto Rico
Pastor Dale Morgan
Mystery Virus Hits Central Puerto Rico*
The Associated Press
October 7, 2006; 6:12 PM
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- More than 200 children and adults have fallen
ill with a mystery virus in central Puerto Rico, forcing officials to
close down a local school, officials said Friday.
Four parents and two teachers sickened by the virus were hospitalized,
the Education Department said. Another four parents and 197 students at
the Escuela Federico Degetau I in Aibonito had caught the virus _ the
origin of which was not known.
Most of the children had diarrhea and a fever, and were vomiting, said
Evelyn Rivera, the Education Department's student health director.
Classes were suspended Thursday afternoon and officials hoped they would
resume next week.
The school's principal was drafting a plan with the teachers and
maintenance staff to disinfect the site, which has an enrollment of 560
students.
The Health Department will send an epidemiologist to the school.