Nearly 100 Teachers, Staff Sick At South Jersey District: Reports

WATERFORD TOWNSHIP, NJ — A school district in Camden County has moved to remote learning after a foodborne illness impacted nearly 60 percent of the staff, the district announced this week. A report said as many as 100 teachers and staff got sick.

The Waterford Township Public School District has shut down until May 24 after staff from the district became sick following a luncheon on May 6, Waterford Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brenda Harring announced.

The district switched to an asynchronous mode of remote-learning, Harring said. Nearly 100 teachers and staff members have been infected, News 12 reports. Parents whose children need computers were told they could pick them up on Wednesday.

“We reported this incident to the Camden County Department of Health and the Waterford Township Police Department to investigate further,” Harring said. “Although the exact pathogen is still unknown at this time, we have been advised by the Camden County Department of Health that the suspected pathogens could be highly contagious. Per the recommendation of our district physician, and for the health and safety of our entire school community, all school buildings will be closed for two weeks. We expect to reopen the buildings on Monday, May 24th. During this time, a thorough cleaning and sanitization process will be completed to help stop the spread of any foodborne germs and illnesses.”

The district didn’t say who catered the event, but CBS 3 reports that the event was catered by a pizzeria in a neighboring town, that told the news station, ““We give our most sincerest get-well wishes to the teachers, staff, students and families that have been affected by this terrible illness.”

The pizzeria announced it is closing for a short time to “steam, clean and sanitize” its restaurant, and Patch was unable to reach the establishment by phone on Wednesday.

“I recognize that last-minute changes to our schedule can be problematic for some families,” Harring said. “However, our top priority is always the health and well-being of our staff and students. I will share updates regarding this matter as new information becomes available. As always, I appreciate your continued support and flexibility during yet another challenging time.”
Common symptoms of foodborne diseases are nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, and diarrhea, but symptoms may differ among the different types of foodborne diseases, Harring said.
More information about foodborne germs and illnesses is available on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.

Anyone who has specific concerns is advised to contact the school nurse or their child’s pediatrician.