BA Takes Precautions After Student Diagnosed With Infection, District Says

Broken Arrow Public Schools says an elementary student has been diagnosed with an infectious gastrointestinal disease and the district is taking precautions.

The health department is involved, a statement says.

Common areas are being disinfected at Liberty Elementary even though the transmission risk of Clostridium difficile, commonly known as C.diff., is low. Classes have not been canceled.

C. Diff. is a bacterial infection that causes inflammation in the colon. Symptoms include diarrhea and fever.

The Centers for Disease Control said people can become infected if they touch items or surfaces that are contaminated with feces containing the C. diff bacteria and then touch their mouth or mucous membranes.

The student who has C. diff will not return to class until they are symptom free, according to the Broken Arrow School District. The district cleaned common areas of the weekend and will continue to do so Monday morning.

Any concerned parent should contact the school if they have additional questions.

Read more about Clostridium difficile infection

Here’s the school’s statement in its entirety.

"We were recently made aware that a student at Liberty Elementary was diagnosed with CDI, or C. diff., an infectious disease. Although the risk of transmission is very small, we are taking all necessary precautions to ensure students are safe including disinfecting restrooms and all common areas prior to students returning on Monday morning. We will be moving students from the affected classroom to the media center until the room can be thoroughly disinfected. The student who is ill will not return to school until symptom free. We are working closely with the health department to ensure we are taking every necessary precaution to protect our students. We encourage all parents to review proper hand washing techniques with their children.

Also, we want to make parents aware of the symptoms of CDI so that they may monitor their children for possible infection. Symptoms include watery diarrhea, fever, loss of appetite, nausea, abdominal pain or tenderness and abdominal cramping. Any student experiencing these symptoms should be kept home.

All parents at Liberty were contacted by schoolcast Sunday evening and we are doing everything possible to ensure our students are safe. Parents should contact the school if they have any additional questions."