Site‘deep cleaned’after outbreak

Plean Primary’s roll of around 160 youngsters plus nine staff, have been affected by the outbreak.

Public health officials were at the school on Wednesday to try and establish a cause of the illness which has similar symptoms to the winter vomiting bug norovirus.

Officials have provided public health advice to the head teacher Ruth Donnelly who has circulated it to parents and carers.

Despite the high number of absences, officials decided against closing the school which is due to break up for the holiday

today (Friday). However, officials have warned parents to keep children still suffering from the bug away from Christmas celebrations.

A spokesman for Forth Valley Health Board said:“We can confirm that a number of pupils at East Plean Primary have been affected by diarrhoea and vomiting.

“NHS Forth Valley’s public health department is working with the school and deep cleaning is being carried out.

“Parents are advised to make sure children are symptom-free for 48 hours before they return to school or attend any Christmas events or parties. We would also emphasise that regular hand-washing is important, particularly before and after using the toilet, to help stop the spread of infection.”

A Stirling Council spokesperson said: “What appears to be a winter vomiting bug unfortunately resulted in approximately 60 per cent of pupils and nine members of staff being unable to attend school at East Plean on Wednesday.

“The school’s head teacher and our education service officials have liaised with public health who have provided advice and support, which has also been shared with parents and carers.

“School operations and teaching are continuing as normal and we will continue to monitor this situation closely and provide support to the school and families.”

Norovirus or winter vomiting often breaks out in closed environments such as schools, hospitals and care homes.

“It causes nausea and diarrhoea, high temperature and aching arms and legs.

Doctors say the symptoms are usually spread from other sufferers and can be treated at home.

People with the bug usually start feeling better within one or two days. In September, 2016, 100 pupils fell ill after an outbreak of norovirus at St Modan’s High, Stirling.

A‘deep clean’was carried out at the school and pupils feeling ill were advised to remain at home. However there were complaints from some parents that the premises should have been shut until all traces of the virus were removed.

East Plean Primary had to be rebuilt following a devastating fire in November, 2010. The blaze, which was started deliberately, caused £5 million worth of damage. The new school opened in 2012.