Bacteria sickens 17 middle Georgia children

EASTMAN - School children in a middle Georgia elementary school are getting a lesson in hand-washing the hard way after 17 became sick from a bacterial outbreak. <br> <br> Several children in North Dodge Elementary School caught the shigella bacteria, which causes diarrhea that can last several days and cause bleeding. The infection is easily treated with antibiotics. <br> <br> Nine students came down with shigella, and some spread the germs to their siblings, bringing the total infections to 17. <br> <br> The bacteria can be spread through food, but investigators believe that&#39;s not how this outbreak was spread because more people would have gotten sick if the germs came from the cafeteria. <br> <br> Dodge County school sujperintendent Aubrey Corbitt said teachers have begun a strict regimen of hand washing with antibacterial soap. <br> <br> Every classroom has soap, and teachers are making sure the students are using it. An antibacterial spray is being used to stop the possibility of airborne bacteria, and as an extra precaution, every school bathroom in the county is being sanitized each night.

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