ELKINS – A “multi-agency investigation” into the reported illnesses of students at Elkins Middle School is underway, and the school will remain “closed until further notice,” according to a county agency.

At about 4:30 p.m. Friday, the Randolph County Office of Emergency Management posted the following to social media:

“Randolph County Emergency Management is leading a multi-agency investigation into patients with elevated carbon monoxide levels at a local hospital in the Elkins area.

“Preliminary results from air quality testing at Elkins Middle School have shown no elevated levels of carbon monoxide (CO). Additional environmental and health analyses and monitoring are ongoing.

“Randolph County Emergency Management is receiving active assistance from the West Virginia Department of Health (WV DH), West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WV DEP), West Virginia Center for Threat Preparedness, local health departments and surrounding hospitals.

“These agencies are coordinating resources through an incident command structure led by Randolph County Emergency Management to ensure a comprehensive response.

“The EPA Emergency Response Team arrived on Thursday and has deployed lab-grade equipment to assess potential exposure sources. The West Virginia Bureau for Public Health (WV BPH) and the Center for Threat Preparedness are evaluating factors contributing to the reported symptoms. The WV BPH is conducting syndromic surveillance – or the collection of health-related data – in collaboration with local health departments and hospitals.

“Residents are advised to report any unusual symptoms to their healthcare providers. As a precaution, Elkins Middle School is closed until further notice.”