A joint decision between the School District of Rhinelander and the Oneida County Health Department, in consultation with the Wisconsin Division of Public Health, announces the closing of Pelican School due to the high incidence of a variety of illnesses among students and staff. Presently, the two main illnesses emerging are gastrointestinal and upper respiratory with fever. The school will remain closed from Friday, Dec. 12, through the weekend. The school will reopen Monday, Dec. 16. All co-curricular activities are canceled in conjunction with this school closure.

The School District of Rhinelander will continue to coordinate with the Oneida County Health Department regarding absentee rates, symptoms of absentees and recommendations for management of all schools in the district. The district and the health department have been monitoring reported illnesses for several years in order to be responsive to outbreak situations such as this and to take action when they occur.

Any individuals with influenza-like illness (fever with a cough or sore throat) or gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea) should stay home and not go into the community, except to seek medical care. Ill individuals should remain home for 48 hours after their symptoms have subsided.

School closure is important to reduce contact among children and stop the spread of the illness. Many students and their families are sick. During this time, both children and adults should stay away from other people and groups as much as possible. They should not gather in other locations such as stores, movie theaters or community gatherings.

To stop the spread of illness, people should:
• Drink plenty of liquid (juice, water).
• Keep the sick person as comfortable as possible. Rest is important.
• For fever, sore throat and muscle aches, use ibuprofen (such as Motrin) or acetaminophen (such as Tylenol). Do not use aspirin with children or teenagers; it can cause Reye’s syndrome, a life-threatening illness.
• Be sure everyone in the household washes their hands frequently.
• Keep the people who are sick away from the people who are not sick.
For more information, call a local healthcare provider or contact the Oneida County Health Department at 715-369-6111.