28-04-2025
Local elementary schools reopen after mysterious rash outbreak
JEFFERSON, Ohio (WJW) — A school district in Ashtabula County that closed because of a mysterious rash on Friday is back open on Monday.
The rash outbreak forced two elementary schools in the Jefferson Area Local School District to close for cleaning. According to school officials, students at both Jefferson Elementary and Rock Creek Elementary came down with the rash.
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'The closure will provide time to thoroughly disinfect and sanitize all school buildings and buses and implement additional safety precautions to help prevent further spread,' said the district in a release on Friday.
As of Friday, health officials were still working to figure out what was causing the rash, but school officials said it appeared to be viral and contagious. The Ashtabula County Health Department said they have been seeing more cases of Fifth disease — also known as 'slapped cheek.' However, it wasn't yet clear if that's the virus causing problems in the schools.
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According to the Cleveland Clinic, Fifth disease mainly affects children but can also occur in adults. The illness typically resolves on its own within several days, but is highly contagious and can spread through respiratory droplets from coughing, sneezing, or close conversation.
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