Officials: Dept. declares end to health outbreak

MILAN TWP. — Officials at the Erie County Health Department on Tuesday announced that a health-related outbreak impacting its high school wrestling team is over. In a memo titled "Edison outbreak investigation," Taylor Kula, the department's epidemiology director, wrote the following: "The Edison High School wrestling team outbreak has met the criteria outlined in the Ohio Revised Code of being at least two incubation periods out from (the) last known case to be declared over." Two incubation periods equate to about 28 days, or four weeks, according to county health commissioner Pete Schade. Schade said he and district personnel, including the wrestling coach and team physician, gave weekly updates over the past month. The health department referenced this as a herpes outbreak impacting Edison Schools. During a Dec. 30 Erie County health board meeting, its members discussed what was categorized as a "potential outbreak of herpes gladiatorum, a skin infection caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1)" impacting Edison High School and its wrestling team. They later confirmed an outbreak had occurred. "HSV-1 often causes oral herpes, which can result in cold sores or fever blisters on or around the mouth," according to the CDC. "Most people with oral herpes do not have any symptoms. Most people with oral herpes get it during childhood or young adulthood from non-sexual contact with saliva." This version of herpes differs from HSV-2, which is genital herpes, a common sexually transmitted disease. On Dec. 17, the health department received an initial complaint from an unidentified individual related to Edison High School's wrestling team. On Dec. 23, during the holiday break, an Edison wrestling coach provided a list of all suspected, probable and confirmed cases related to the outbreak to Kula via email. "He was instructed to update the list with new cases and resend until the outbreak can be officially closed," according to a timeline the health department compiled. "The initial returned list identified 13 cases," according to the timeline. "All cases were diagnosed by a physician, and most were treated with antivirals. The first case began on Nov. 24." No additional cases beyond the 13 had occurred, resulting in the health department announcing that the outbreak had ended. During this outbreak period, Edison didn't participate in previously scheduled wrestling meets. Even though health department officials listed this HSV-1 spread as the lowest level of potential outbreaks, per state health department standards, those infected will still face life-changing consequences, Kula said. "Kids are going to have this herpes gladiatorum forever," Kula said. "We would like to emphasize the seriousness of this infection, particularly among children and adolescents. HSV is a lifelong virus, and affected individuals may experience recurrent outbreaks requiring antiviral treatment. Potential complications include keratitis, pneumonia and encephalitis." Parents criticize news report At Tuesday night's school board meeting, a small group of people, including district wrestling parents, sharply criticized news reporting surrounding the outbreak. During public comment portion of the meeting, four speakers asserted that Register and Reflector reporting on the herpes outbreak was irresponsible and stated that wrestlers were being bullied and otherwise ostracized in school because of it. They also targeted newly sworn-in board member Jacqui Rockwell for making Facebook posts discussing the outbreak and called on her to step down from her position. Following this at the meeting, Rockwell continued to serve in her new board capacities.