CHINA, Texas — The Beaumont Health Department confirmed to 12News on Wednesday the sickness prompting Monday's closure of China Elementary School is not meningitis.
Hardin-Jefferson ISD closed the campus and had it professionally cleaned on Monday due to concerns that a child may have meningitis. Classes resumed on Tuesday.
The health department said Wednesday the test results came back negative for meningitis.
The news comes a day after West Hardin County CISD decided to close its campuses due to a rising number of sicknesses among its students and staff.
WHCCISD says there has been a number of cases of flu, strep throat, stomach virus and pneumonia.
Hardin-Jefferson ISD's Monday statement about the China school closure said in part, "The health and safety of our students is our top priority. The cleaning and sanitization of China Elementary will be completed by the end of the day."
According to the CDC, influenza activity is on the rise in Texas.
"Compared to the previous week, the percentage of specimens testing positive for influenza reported by hospital laboratories increased," the Texas Dept. of State Health Services said on their website.
There have been flu-like illnesses reported across Southeast Texas with Jefferson, Orange and Jasper Counties reporting rapid test positive flu cases.
Local doctors say they have been seeing a number of patients with upper respiratory infections as well.
