Gastrointestinal Illness Outbreak Leaves 130 Las Vegas Elementary Students “Projectile Vomiting,” Parents Want Answers

A Las Vegas elementary school has parents tight after a recent outbreak left over 100 young students sick. 

Last week, a gastrointestinal illness outbreak at Wayne N. Tanaka Elementary affected 130 students. One teacher said the scene was ‘like Armageddon’ with students lined up against a wall outside projectile vomiting, Fox News reported.

Officials with the Clark County School District and Southern Nevada Health District have not confirmed what caused the Jan. 27 incident, according to 8 News Now.

“A teacher said it was ‘like Armageddon.’ Our daughter said there were trash cans lined up and kids just throwing up everywhere,” Danielle Farrow, a mother of one student, told the outlet.

An unidentified parent who said her daughter became sick Thursday and vomited “five or six times overnight” believes it was contaminated food from the school’s cafeteria.

The school district notified parents that they are investigating the incident: “The Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD) is investigating the cause of the gastrointestinal illnesses reported by several of the students at Tanaka,” the district wrote in an email. “We are currently working with the Clark County School District Health Services Department and SNHD on implementing measures to prevent further illness.”

“Gastrointestinal viruses are common and easily spread from person to person. Regular and appropriate handwashing is one of the most effective prevention methods for reducing the spread of gastrointestinal illness and other illnesses.”

Nearly a week later, parents still don’t have an answer. “I don’t know if they have all the information present as to what happened, but I wish that we did have more constant updates as to what’s going on,” the unidentified parent added. “At the end of the day, we don’t know what’s going on. We don’t know how to help them. I mean, if kids are a priority, then we need to know what’s going on, so we can help our children.”