Officials: 30 students, staff sickened at Union Co. school

UNION COUNTY, N.C. — A Union County school is waiting on lab results that will determine what sickened at least 30 people.

Administrators at Shiloh Elementary School contacted the Union County Health Department Friday after 174 people, the majority of whom were students, didn’t show up for class on an end-of-grade test day.

“That was 30 percent of its student body,” said Phillip Tarte, who is the health director for the Union County Health Department. “The most common symptoms reported are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal cramps.”

Tarte said the health department contacted all parents with a child who was absent Friday.

“We want to do a history on where they’ve been and what they’ve done,” Tarte said.

Tarte believes the sickness has been caused by a virus, but the pathogen is unknown.

School officials delayed end-of-grade testing until Tuesday and notified parents of the sickness through an automated phone call.

"We got the call at about 10:30 this morning," said Patrick Barratt, who has two children who attend the elementary school.  "Neither of my kids are feeling sick."

The school will get a thorough cleaning over the weekend. 

Anyone else who is experiencing symptoms should contact Union County Division of Public Health at 704-296-4878.

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