The latest illness making its way across the country and through the halls of school buildings has arrived in Cazenovia – and a lot of elementary and middle school students have been staying home sick as a result.

“We have had a high absenteeism. Our nurses have seen a higher absenteeism than normal,” said Superintendent Matt Reilly. “The symptoms being reported have been consistent with those of the Enterovirus D68.”

The Enterovirus D68 is one of many enteroviruses, and typically causes mild symptoms including fever, runny nose, sneezing, cough, body and muscle aches, according to information from the state department of health. The illness can have more serious effects, however, including difficulty breathing and wheezing, and people with asthma may have a higher risk for severe respiratory illness.

“We have been visited by this virus at Burton Street,” Reilly told the board of education at its Sept. 15 meeting. “Notices have been sent out to parents, and the maintenance staff has been vigilantly looking at all transmittable surfaces and taking extra precautions [with cleaning].”

The district sent out a letter to Burton Street parents on Saturday Sept. 13, and posted the information on the district website the following Monday, informing people of the virus and the fact that a student at Burton Street was confirmed to have it, which caused that student to be hospitalized. The student has since been released and has returned to school, Reilly said.

The district letter listed the virus’ symptoms, the ways it spreads and the best way to protect against it. Since Enterovirus causes respiratory illness, the virus can be found in respiratory secretions, such as saliva, nasal mucus or sputum. It is spread from person to person when an infected person coughs, sneezes or touches contaminated surfaces, according to the state department of health.

There is no specific treatment for this virus, and children that display a fever with the typical Enterovirus D68 symptoms should be kept home from school, stated the district letter, which was signed by Burton Street Principal Mary Ann MacIntosh and Nurse Cindy Hirt.

“We encourage parents to keep their children at home when they’re ill, whether it’s this or any other illness,” Reilly said.

The best defense against contracting the virus, according to the state department of health, is to frequently and thoroughly wash hands; avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands; avoid sharing cups or eating utensils with people who are sick; and disinfect frequently touched surfaces, such as tables, doorknobs, etc.

Reilly said that he had no specific numbers of how many students may have contracted the enterovirus or have been absent from school between Sept. 8 and 15, just that the illness has been primarily in the elementary and middle schools. As of Wednesday, Sept. 17, nurses at the two schools reported higher attendance and fewer students coming to the nurse’s office feeling sick than in days past, Reilly said.

“There’s always going to be challenges [at the beginning of the school year], and this was just an unexpected one,” Reilly said.

He said the district continues to field questions from concerned parents, and encourages anyone with questions to contact Nurse Hirt at Burton Street at 655-1355.

Jason Emerson is editor of the Cazenovia Republican. He can be reached at [email protected].