Posted 02/12/16
by Anthony Mazur

     Marcus High School has just released an alert warning students and parents of viral gastroenteritis symptoms, a stomach bug that has been going around Marcus at a higher-than-normal rate.
     “The illness is characterized with symptoms including nausea, vomiting, watery diarrhea, headache and abdominal pain,” the alert said. “Symptoms may also include lethargy, weakness, muscle aches and low-grade fevers. In general, symptoms begin one to two days following exposure and may last one to three days.”
     Marcus High School has been recommended to clean the campus, which the alert assured will be carried out by the custodial staff. Administration is also reminding parents to take appropriate precautions.
     “We encourage you to remind your child(ren) that the most important way to prevent the spread of this illness is through careful hand washing,” the alert said.
     The illness is infectious, and Marcus has provided guidelines to parents about whether or not to send their child(ren) to school after being sick:

• Students who have experienced a diarrheal [sic] illness must be free of all episodes for 24 hours without the aid of any anti-diarrhea medications.
  
  
• Students who have experienced a fever of more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit must be fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications.
  
  
• Students who have had two or more episodes of vomiting within a 24-hour period are advised to stay home until they are able to tolerate one to two meals without vomiting.
  

     “The safety and health of our students and staff remains our top priority,” Marcus Principal Gary Shafferman said in the alert. “Please know MHS and Lewisville ISD will continue to partner with all public health experts to monitor this situation.”
     The full release can be found here.