BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Jun 1, CMC-The Ministry of Health and Wellness says there is no need for closure of the Hillaby/Turners Hall School “at this time after laboratory testing have confirmed evidence of past dengue infection in three children and one confirmed case consistent with Group A Streptococcus.
Group A Streptococcus, often called Strep A, is a common bacterium that lives harmless in the throat or on the skin for many people. However, it can cause a wide variety of mild to severe illnesses, ranging from strep throat to life-threatening invasive infections.
It is spread through person-to-person contact, particularly via respiratory droplets and close contact. The ministry said that within 24 hours of commencing antibiotics children are deemed no longer infectious.
The ministry said that it completed further review of recent illness reports among children at the school and that the remaining children assessed have not shown positive results for these conditions.
“We are grateful to the Ministry of Education Transformation particularly the teachers and parents of the school, for their trust and cooperation during the investigation and supporting actions. The Ministry of Health and Wellness will continue to monitor the situation and to provide guidance and support as needed.”
The ministry said it continues to work closely with school authorities and public health team to ensure appropriate monitoring and guidance and that “the current situation does not indicate an unusual outbreak pattern within the school setting.
“The Ministry of Health and Wellness reminds the public that schools are part of the wider community and illnesses can be introduced into the environment from time to time resulting in outbreaks.”
It said that standard public health measures remain appropriate and effective, including good hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette, regular cleaning of classroom surfaces, and continued attention to mosquito bite prevention in the wider community. The Ministry of Education Transformation has implemented the recommended measures.
“Parents are reminded that children who are unwell should remain at home and only return to school once they are medically assessed and cleared,” the ministry said, adding “from a public health perspective there is no need for closure of the school at this time”.
CMC/fk/ir/2026