Children at Marcus Garvey Academy in Detroit are getting sick from an unidentified illness.
Multiple children at the school have become sick from an unknown viral illness, and one kindergarten student died.
According to the Daily Caller, the medical examiner hasnt confirmed the child who died had succumbed to this unidentified illness.
The Detroit Free Press reports the cause of the 6-year-old boys death wasnt evident in the autopsy, and toxicology reports are still pending. He was remembered at a special school board meeting on Tuesday, where board President Angelique Peterson-Mayberry asked others to remember the young boy.
Dr. Kevin Dazy from the Childrens Hospital of Michigan notes that respiratory illnesses this late in the season arent unusual for this area. He told NBC News, Sure, this is a little bit later in the season. By no means is it unheard of that we may see another wave of any viral respiratory illness.
Dr. Dazy added that physicians do not usually do testing for respiratory viruses during off-peak seasons. This could explain why the illness remains unidentified.
The illness is said to cause flu-like symptoms, including headaches, lethargy, fever, abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. The Detroit Health Department warns parents to watch children, particularly children 4 to 7 years old, for signs of this illness. Any child who has symptoms should receive medical care immediately.
The school was closed due to an unknown illness and wont reopen until Monday to allow crews to do a deep cleaning of the facility. The school and the Detroit Health Department agreed to close the school, enabling parents to monitor their children for signs of illness.
The state health department, school district, and the Detroit Health Department are working to evaluate the situation. The protocol for disinfecting and deep cleaning is being closely monitored.
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