Children at Marcus Garvey Academy in Detroit are being struck with an unidentified illness.
Multiple children at the school have gotten sick from an unknown viral illness, and one kindergarten student died.
Its been noted that the medical examiner hasnt confirmed the child who died had succumbed to this unidentified illness. 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, May 2.
Dr. Kevin Dazy from the Childrens Hospital of Michigan notes that respiratory illnesses this late in the season arent unusual for this area. He stated doctors dont normally test for respiratory viruses during off-peak seasons. That fact could explain why this illness remains unidentified. This doesnt make it any easier for parents to cope with such a dangerous viral illness thats going through young children.
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 who are 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 the illness and wont reopen until Monday to allow cleaning crews to clean the facility deep. The school and the health department decided to close the school together, enabling parents to monitor their children for signs of illness.
The state health department, school system, and the Detroit Health Department are working to monitor the situation. The protocol for disinfecting and deep cleaning is being monitored. Hopefully, students at the school, which includes pre-k through eighth grade, will be able to learn safely once they return on Monday.
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