Communicable Disease Alert
The Health Offices in the River Vale School District have recently noticed an increase in the number of students with the signs and symptoms of a stomach virus and strep throat. The Department of Health has also informed us that there have been several cases of Chicken Pox identified in children of pre-school age in River Vale, and an increased number of Pertussis cases have been reported locally as well. As spring approaches, it is also not uncommon to see a resurgence of Fifth's Disease.
Some signs and symptoms commonly associated with these diseases include:
Fever
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
Sore throat
Cough (especially a cough that persists longer than 2 weeks)
Rash
All of these communicable diseases are highly contagious and easily spread from person to person. Anyone who exhibits signs of illness should be cautious about possibly exposing others who they may come in contact with, and consider staying home from work or school. Developing good hand washing practices is the most effective approach to minimizing the spread of disease. It is also important to remember to cover your nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing, as this is the primary mode of transmission for many diseases. Your physician can advise you more specifically about treatment for each of these illnesses.
Please be sure to consider those around you who might be pregnant or immuno-suppressed, as they are especially vulnerable to these diseases.
If you have any questions about any of these communicable diseases, please feel free to contact your school nurse.