Officials track rash outbreaks across U.S.

Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention wants to know whether the mysterious rashes that have afflicted hundreds of youngsters in at least seven states, including Washington and Oregon, are somehow related — and more widespread than previously thought.

Acting on media reports, the CDC this week asked health officials in all 50 states for information on possible rash outbreaks in their schools.

On Thursday, 46 students and three staffers at Chapman School in Sheridan started itching. They all complained of sunburnlike blotches on their necks and arms.

The rash only affected areas of skin exposed to the air, and no one was physically ill, principal Tim Graham said.

The school will be closed today, even though state health workers and janitors were unable to find a likely culprit.

Students in Pennsylvania, Oregon, New York, West Virginia, Virginia, Ohio and Washington state have complained about similar rashes on the face, arms, legs and body in recent months. For the most part, the rashes go away when the students leave school.

"There are some CDC dermatologists and other CDC personnel who are looking at the various rashes to see if there are some commonalties," agency spokeswoman Rhonda Smith said Thursday.

So far, CDC has heard back from officials in Oregon, Indiana, New York, Georgia, Virginia and Pennsylvania, said spokesman Llelwyn Grant.

CDC investigators plan to interview dermatologists, pediatricians and nurses who examined the affected children, he said.

Some health investigators suspect some of the rashes might be caused by a new or yet-to-be-identified virus. Most school systems have ruled out an environmental cause, although a school district in Washington state found abnormally high level of dust, dandruff and skin particles.

The red, itchy rash has temporarily closed schools, worried parents and frustrated school administrators.