Watch CBS News

Parents Attend Meeting With School Administrators, Health Officials Following NJ 4-Year-Old's Death

By Diana Rocco

HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, N.J, (CBS) -- Angry Yardville Elementary School parents demand more information from school administrators and health officials after a four-year-old old boy in the preschool class died Thursday from an apparent respiratory virus.

"They have to wait right now, it's just a waiting game on finding out what actually happened last week," fifth grade parent Kelly Fry said.

"But you've got a bunch of parents that are scared out of their mind to send their kids to school," parent Jim Moon said.

Attendance was at 65 percent at the elementary school in Hamilton, New Jersey Monday and many parents say they'll be keeping their children home until they're certain the school is safe.

"He won't be going. He won't be going," Fry said.

The four-year-old old was not in school Wednesday. Health officials say he quickly became symptomatic and died Thursday morning at home. While a death from the enterovirus D68 has never been reported, the preschooler's symptoms are consistent with that of D68. His sample has been sent to the Centers for Disease Control for testing.

"The concern is why did a four-year-old toddler pass. Four-year-old toddlers just do not pass. So the concern is to find out what this poor child passed from," Hamilton Township Health Officer Jeff Plunkett said.

Last Monday another child in the same classroom was hospitalized with a respiratory illness. The school says Thursday and Friday they took all necessary precautions.

"We brought in a whole cleaning crew and we completely sanitized that room all day Friday," Superintendent Dr. James Parla said.

The CDC says it will take three days to return the test results.

Must Read Today's Top Stories

 

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.