Parents Concerned After Students Fall Ill At Philadelphia School
By Cherri Gregg
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Parents are demanding a South Philadelphia school be closed for at least a day to be sanitized after some students came down with an illness.
The parents say several Sharswood Elementary School students have been sickened with a serious stomach bug known as Clostridium difficile (C. Diff) over the last few weeks. They say they will not be sending their kids to school on Monday because the district hasn't done enough to make the school clean.
"They actually have official doctors notes saying their children should not go back to school until the school is sanitized," says parent Janine McAlonan.
The parents gathered outside the school on Saturday to spread their message.
"I had notified the Department of Health," says parent Jamie Kronchad, "and the school to have it cleaned."
She says her 5-year-old son contracted C. Diff while at the school. She says he lost eight pounds over several days.
"He had to take very strong antibiotic to get rid of it," Kronchad says.
Parents say other children, although not diagnosed with C. Diff, were sent home with similar symptoms. According to the CDC, C. Diff spreads via contaminated surfaces and from person to person.
The Philadelphia School District released the following statement:
The School District is following the guidance of the Philadelphia Health Department regarding the case of one student that has been identified to be ill due to C-diff. The most important steps if for students to wash their hands and to stay home if they have any symptoms.
The School District, at this time, has no plans to close the school.
