Mysterious Illness Sickens PA Students

March 23, 2004

CORAOPOLIS, Pa. (AP) - A mysterious illness has sickened dozens of youngsters at a school district in suburban Pittsburgh, forcing the cancellation of classes for about 800 students until at least next week.

Classes were canceled Friday at the Cornell School District when 134 high school and elementary students grew ill with flu-like symptoms. Many remained home Monday.

When reports of students vomiting in class reached Superintendent D.J. Johnson on Tuesday morning, he summoned buses to send everyone home for the rest of the week.

"I was hoping that it would dissipate, but obviously it's on the upswing,'' he said.

Early testing has shown that the sickness is not caused by bacteria and is not a food-borne illness. Evidence points to a ``very contagious'' virus spread when people touch contaminated surfaces, said Bruce Dixon, director of the Allegheny County health department.

An outside company has been hired to disinfect the schools.

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-brf-school-sickness,0,2412738.story?coll=sns-ap-nation-headlines