Two types of fungi behind the closing of an NC school, district official says
Environmental testing revealed the nasty biological agents that prompted West Rowan Middle School to temporarily close its campus and switch to remote learning this week, a school district spokeswoman said Wednesday.
The tests found elevated levels of two types of fungi, aspergillus and penicillium, Rowan-Salisbury Schools spokeswoman Jeanie McDowell told The Charlotte Observer.
Aspergillus is a common indoor and outdoor mold spore that can cause allergic reactions and lung and other infections in people with weakened immune systems, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Penicillium, now called talaromycosis, can produce fever, weight loss, coughing, swollen lymph nodes, difficulty breathing and small, painless bumps on the skin, according to the CDC.
Talaromycosis, however, affects only people who live in or visit Southeast Asia, southern China or eastern India and have medical conditions that weaken their immune systems, such as HIV/AIDS, according to the CDC.
‘Intensive cleaning’ underway
School officials received test results on Monday after microbial growth was found in the HVAC system and “took action immediately,” McDowell said in an email.
Contractors began intensive cleaning in the school on Tuesday, she said.
“Our top priority continues to be our students and creating an environment focused on helping them succeed,” McDowell said.
Rowan-Salisbury Chief of Schools Greggory Slate informed parents about the school’s closure in a phone message late Monday, the Observer previously reported.
“We apologize for this inconvenience,” he said.
A school district spokeswoman provided the Observer a copy of the message after the newspaper inquired about parental complaints on social media over the past week that some of their children developed respiratory illnesses at the school.
Earlier this month, an independent consultant also tested the HVAC system after custodial staff reported some microbial growth in the school, Slate said in his message.
COVID among kids on the rise
At the same time, the county has experienced a higher rate of COVID cases among ages 17 and under, “although our rates overall are decreasing,” Rowan County Public Health Director Alyssa Harris told the Observer on Tuesday.
For the week ending Aug. 6, Rowan County reported 34 COVID cases in children ages 5-17, state data show. That number increased to 41 the following week and 76 by Aug. 20, according to the most recent figures available.
“Back to school time often ushers in illness, as students are in close contact during the school day,” Harris said in an email.
A concerned West Rowan Middle School parent “did the right thing” by contacting the county health department on Aug. 17 about what the parent thought was mold in the school, Harris said.
“The school is complying and taking all of the necessary steps to ensure safety for students,” according to Harris.
What West Rowan Middle families can do
School district and county health officials advise West Rowan Middle School families to:
▪ Contact their child’s primary care provider if they suspect their child was ill because of conditions in the school. A doctor must, by state law, must report the case to the health department, Harris told the Observer.
▪ Sign up for lunches for their children on the school’s website. Due to the closure, lunches are free through Friday.
▪ Pick up an iPad for their child 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and 4-6 p.m. Thursday and Friday at the exterior door of the school media center, 8050 N.C. 801 in Mount Ulla.
This story was originally published August 24, 2022 at 5:47 PM.