Gastroenteritis closing Newton County school Friday

A Newton County elementary school will be closed Friday following an outbreak of gastroenteritis.

Oak Hill Elementary School will be closed for both students and staff due to a large number of students coming down with gastroenteritis, Newton County Schools officials wrote on the district's Facebook page Thursday.

Gastroenteritis, according to the Centers for Disease Control, is inflammation of the stomach and small and large intestines. It mainly causes vomiting and watery diarrhea; other symptoms can include fever, abdominal cramps, nausea, muscle aches and headache.

“Please be assured that we are working very closely with the Newton County Health Department as we follow their recommendations for cleaning the school and for monitoring students who have become ill,” district officials wrote.

School operations are expected to return to normal on Monday, officials said, but they encouraged parents with children who show symptoms on Sunday to keep them home until they are symptom-free without medication for at least 24 hours.

Officials encouraged parents to watch their children and other family members to see if they exhibit symptoms. If a child develops diarrhea, parents should contact their child’s doctor, informing them that they attend a school with students diagnosed with gastroenteritis.

Proper hand-washing is key to preventing the sickness and its spread, officials said, adding that washing with soap and water is crucial as alcohol-based hand sanitizers are typically not effective in fighting the viruses that cause gastroenteritis.