Only one out of 25 reported cases of mycoplasma pneumonia has been confirmed at Oak Hill Elementary School, Anne Arundel health officials said Wednesday.
“Some of those 25 were just respiratory infections and not pneumonia,” said Elin Jones, health department spokeswoman.
Dr. Katherine Farrell, a deputy health officer with the health department, said five more probable cases are expected to be confirmed as mycoplasma pneumonia.
Mycoplasma is a bacteria that can cause sore throats, bronchitis and pneumonia. Symptoms can start from eight to 32 days after exposure and last from a few days to a month or more, according to the health department.
All cases have been reported since the beginning the school year, schools spokesman Bob Mosier. said Three notes about the suspected cases of mycoplasma pneumonia have been released to parents since September.
“In response to this situation, our school custodians have been cleaning and disinfecting all classrooms ? including desktops ? nightly,” Principal Cheryl Vauls in an Oct. 4 letter to parents said.
“We also have ensured that tissues and hand sanitizers are available in classrooms.”
Additionally, air filters have been changed in the first-grade area, and all air filters have been cleaned.
Like methicillin-resistant Staphyloccoccus aureus, which has hit county schools, mycoplasma pneumonia is a nonreportable incident, meaning doctors do not have to disclose the incident to health authorities.
The MRSA count in Anne Arundel remains at 12, Mosier said.
