Mysterious Rash Outbreak Continues in Lake Forest, Saddleback USD

LAKE FOREST, CA — Lake Forest Elementary School has endured a recent affliction of rashes or bites for both teachers and students. School fields are now closed until the cause if found.

At last report, 30 students and 10 staff members have rash symptoms, according to the Saddleback Unified School District. The question remains as to whether this condition is the result of a skin irritation or whether a pest caused the outbreak.

First reports of the rash were on Sept. 15. In tests completed on Wednesday, the school was negative for live pests, according to Saddleback Valley Unified School District spokesperson and assistant to the school district superintendent, Tammy Blakely.

Blakely mentioned, in interview, that the initial outbreak seemed "concentrated in the school's after school program," she said. As of Thursday, Sept. 29 the outbreak of bites or rash is not exclusive to the after school students and teachers according to Blakely.

A wider letter with an image of the skin irritation went home to Saddleback Unified School District parents yesterday, many parents which are concerned for their children.

Mother Jessica Valdivia received the report from Lake Forest Elementary school.

"My daughters go to Lake Forest Elementary school and they honestly have no info on what it could be," she said over Facebook. "I just got a call this morning saying there closing the fields for the remaining week."

Valdivia stated that the research as to the cause of the irritation has lasted a week.

"I just hope they figure it out soon," she said. "Those poor kids."

"OC Vector Control Mosquito and Vector Control District has closed the fields at Lake Forest Elementary School and is still investigating to determine the pest responsible for the rash," Blakely said. "We have confirmed totals of 30 students and approximately 10 staff members who were afflicted with the symptoms."

According to Blakely, initial reports from the physicians who saw the students with rashes stated that the cause could be anywhere from skin irritation, unknown rash, unknown bug bite, or unknown skin irritant.

"Vector Control is in charge of identifying the pest that could be causing the rash," she said.

OC Vector Control did a "follow-up assessment" on Wednesday at Lake Forest Elementary School to "identify and address the issue" of the outbreak of rashes, according to Blakely.

"It's a serious whodunnit," Jared Dever of OC Vector Control District said. "Dozens of traps have been laid for the past week and a half. What we're looking for is a wide variety of biting or stinging insects."

Mosquitoes have been ruled out, according to Dever, leading the OC Vector Control to look for different types of biting or stinging insects.

"It's unlikely bed bugs are the culprit because they're noticeable and usually strike when victims are asleep and immobile," he said.

"The entire campus was sprayed, both inside and outside classrooms, and all field areas this weekend with a general pesticide that is safe for use at schools," Blakely said.

The tests Wednesday morning "came back negative for any live pests," she stated. "Out of an extreme abundance of caution, the entire campus will be sprayed again this weekend, both inside and outside classrooms, and all field areas to ensure that all concerns have been addressed."

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City News Service contributed to this report. Saddleback Unified School District released image