Over 50 students away sick at Henry Janzen School

Henry Janzen School in Regina. (GOOGLE)

Several students are away sick after illness struck Henry Janzen elementary school in Regina.

Regina Public Schools spokesperson Terry Lazarou says the school is dealing with a higher-than-average amount of illness.

On Wednesday, 52 of the school’s 460 students were absent due to illness. On Tuesday, 54 students were away sick and on Monday, illness kept 69 kids at home.

Some of the school’s staff have also fallen ill. Three staff were away sick Wednesday and 10 were absent due to illness Tuesday, when a letter was sent home to parents to notify them of the situation.

Lazarou says crews spent six hours cleaning surfaces at the school, including desks and door handles. All teachers have been given sanitary wipes, and students have been told to wash their hands regularly.

“I can’t comment on what this is,” Lazarou said. “Because the numbers are going down, it probably indicates that it’s something seasonal.”

The school has notified the Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region of the increased absences due to illness.

“The illnesses are likely caused by commonly circulating viruses we see at this time of the year, causing short bouts of diarrheal illness typically described as stomach flu; as well as the common respiratory illnesses seen such as colds and some influenza,” the health region said in a statement issued Wednesday.

The health region says it has provided the school and division with advice on cleaning and information sheets for distribution.