District Investigating After Students, Staff Experience Sudden Illness

Unexpected Illness Causes Evacuation at Gray Court-Owings School

Gray Court, S.C. – A sudden wave of illness impacted Gray Court-Owings School on Thursday, prompting an immediate investigation by Laurens County School District 55. During the midday hours, an unusual number of students and staff began feeling unwell, leading to a precautionary evacuation of the school.

Initial Suspicions and Ruling Out Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

This sudden health crisis raised initial concerns about carbon monoxide poisoning. Firefighters from the Laurens Fire Department swiftly arrived at the scene and began inspections. However, after thorough investigations, the possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning was **ruled out**.

Exploring Other Potential Causes

Given the circumstances, other causes are now being considered. The district is delving into **food testing and circumstances** around the meals served, although they suggest there is a low probability that food poisoning is the culprit. Additionally, there were a few cases of a stomach virus reported at the same school on Wednesday, which could potentially be linked to this incident.

Safety Measures and Ongoing Investigation

To ensure the safety and health of all students and staff, after-school events were promptly canceled for Thursday. The district is continuing its investigation into the cause of this sudden illness.

The community is on high alert, but district officials are working tirelessly to determine the root cause and implement measures to prevent future occurrences.