Published: Monday, December 13, 2010, 4:56 PM     Updated: Monday, December 13, 2010, 5:09 PM Lester D. Wilson School in Alexandria Twp.

ALEXANDRIA TWP. — The Hunterdon County Department of Health is investigating what officials called “an unusual high number of streptococcal diseases” in Lester D. Wilson school children and faculty.

About 60 cases of strep and seven cases of scarlet fever have been reported to the department by the LDW nurse since mid-October.

According to Superintendent Dr. Matthew Jennings, 13 students were out today, but not all of them were because of strep symptoms. “That’s not unusual,” he said.

There have been a few cases at Alexandria Middle School, but the bulk of infections have been among younger students. Two or three teachers have had strep as well, Jennings said.

The number of cases over a short term, Jennings said, “raised a red flag.” According to Jennings, the LDW nurse has been continually updating the Health Department. Parents were notified via the district’s email alert system on Dec. 10.

Wilson School has about 240 students; there are 325 at the middle school. The district has about 60 teachers.

Strep symptoms can include cough, fever, tender or swollen glands in the neck, white or yellowish patches in the throat and sometimes vomiting. Scarlet fever is a strep infection accompanied by a skin rash. Left untreated, both can lead to serious complications, according to a Health Department release.

Strep throat is spread through direct contact or exposure to respiratory droplets. According to Health Department spokesman Carl Rachel, simple measures such as sneezing and coughing into one’s sleeve or elbow and proper hand washing can help reduce its spread.

At LDW students’ desks have been rearranged from clusters into rows and the water fountains have been shut off to help stem the spread of the disease. Children are encouraged to bring bottled water from home.

While the overall number of infections is unusual, Jennings said that the school has not seen a notable percentage of absences due to strep at one time, which might have necessitated shutting down.

Parents can help slow the spread of the disease by “(keeping) kids home if they’re diagnosed,” Jennings said.

For more information about strep throat, visit the Health Department website, co.hunterdon.nj.us/health.htm.