Possible environmental situation causing illnesses at Autauga County school

DEATSVILLE, Ala. (WSFA) - Autauga County Schools announced another possible environmental situation at Pine Level Elementary School Monday. This follows a similar incident from Friday that caused illnesses.

According to a school system spokesperson, the situation is causing skin and eye irritations at the school.

One mother said her child got a rash after being exposed to something that caused eye irritation, redness and itchiness. She said there were many children in the nurse’s office due to exposure.

Around 45 kids have shown similar symptoms, and the exact reason is not yet known.

Interim Autauga County Schools Superintendent Daniel Boyd said they’ve been transparent about informing the parents of the situation. He said they sent a school communication to parents via telephone and put updates on Facebook.transparant about informing the parents of the situation. He said they sent a school communication to parents via telephone and put updates on Facebook.

Firefighters have been swabbing surfaces and monitoring the air quality as the investigation into the outbreak continues.

“We’ll continue to do our best to survey the area and monitor the area so that we can hopefully bring some specific closure to this event,” said Sam Castanza, chief of special operations for Montgomery Fire/Rescue.

The school system said a state agency called Civil Support Team conducted additional environmental testing at the school Monday.

Classes will be virtual Tuesday so staff members can clean the campus.

Autauga County Schools officials are urging any students who show symptoms to get treatment then contact the school principal to record the exposure.

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