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Georgia OKeeffe Elementary

11701 San Victorio Avenue, NE

Albuquerque, NM 87111-5947

A Blue Ribbon School of Excellence

KATHRYN SHULL

Principal

(505) 293-4259

April 17, 2013

Dear Parents,

As I let you know on Friday, last week there were a number of Georgia OKeeffe staff members

out sick with stomach flu-like symptoms. On Monday, the state Department of Health came tothe school and got samples from some of the affected staff. Yesterday, after school was

dismissed for the day, the Dept. of Health notified our school nurse that at least some of those

samples tested positive for the norovirus.

The norovirus causes stomach flu-like symptoms including diarrhea, vomiting and abdominalpain. While there are no confirmed cases among students, should your child develop these

symptoms please keep them home from school. Again, teachers will work with students who

miss school due to illness to make up any missed coursework.

We also recommend that everyone wash their hands frequently at a minimum before and after

lunch, and after using the restroom.

The city Environmental Health Department also visited the school on Monday. They

recommended extra cleaning of cafeteria and kitchen areas, as well as disinfecting of highly

touched areas such as desks and light switches. The school has taken these steps.

Again, thank you for talking to your child about this.

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Sincerely,

Kathryn Shull,

PrincipalVision: Todays LearnersTomorrows Leaders

Mission: Learning for Today and Tomorrow

An Equal Opportunity Employer

Recommendations from the New Mexico Department of Health and the Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention:

Practice proper hand hygiene. Wash your hands carefully withsoap and water, especially after using the toilet and changing diapers

and always before eating or preparing food. Healthcare personnel with signs and symptoms of

norovirus should stay home and notreturn to work until 72hours after recovery from illness.

Take care in the kitchen. Carefully wash fruits and vegetables,and cook oysters and other shellfish thoroughly before eating them.

Do not prepare food while infected . People with norovirusillness, particularly food handlers working in schools, restaurants,facilities, catering businesses or any venue that provides food to thepublic, should not prepare food for others while they have symptoms

and for 72 hours after they recover from their illness. Clean and disinfect contaminated surfaces immediately by

using a bleach-based household cleaner as directed on the productlabel after vomiting or having diarrhea.

Wash laundry thoroughly. Immediately remove and washclothing or linens that may be contaminated with stool or vomitus.Handle soiled items carefullywithout agitating themto avoidspreading virus. If available, wear rubber or disposable gloves whilehandling soiled clothing or linens and wash your hands after handling.The items should be washed with detergent at the maximum availablecycle length and then machine dried.

For more information about norovirus, visit the CDC online at

http://www.cdc.gov/Features/Norovirus.

http://www.cdc.gov/Features/Norovirushttp://www.cdc.gov/Features/Norovirus