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Beacon City School District Superintendent Matt Landahl said school staff learned on Tuesday, March 26, of a confirmed case of C. diff, Clostridioides difficile, in an announcement on the district's website and in an email to parents.
The district immediately consulted with the Dutchess County Department of Behavioral and Community Health who advised school officials to clean hard surfaces in the school Tuesday evening, to prevent the bacteria from spreading, Landahl said.
"After reviewing the extent of cleaning required at the high school, I have decided to close Beacon High School on Wednesday, March 27," the superintendent said. "The other five schools in our district will remain open tomorrow."
The district has hired ServPro who will do the cleaning and they will use an EPA approved cleaning agent specifically used to stop the spread of C. diff.
"We are implementing this cleaning protocol out of an abundance of caution," he added. "Closing the high school for a day was our decision as a school district."
According to the Center For Disease Control, symptoms of C. diff include:
- Diarrhea including loose, watery stools or frequent bowel movements for several days
- Fever
- Stomach tenderness or pain
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
Additional information about C. diff can be found at the Centers for Disease Control website or by calling the county Department of Behavioral and Community Health at 845-486-3402.
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