Hey Prime members, you can Binge episodes 33 through 40 of Mr. Bollin's Medical Mysteries right now and

ad free on Amazon Music. Download the app today. Early one winter morning in 2000, an elementary school principal in Massachusetts walked into her office to prepare for the day when her phone rang.

When she picked up, the state health official on the other end of the line had alarming news.

Two of the

principal students have been rushed to the hospital the night before

with the same life-threatening condition.

Even worse, their disease was totally contagious and the two girls had attended the school the day before,

meaning any students or teachers they interacted with could now also be sick.

The principal couldn't believe what she was hearing.

She had 550 kids due to arrive at school in less than an hour.

She knew how quickly contagious diseases could spread through a group of kids, and so containment

would be nearly impossible. And it was too late to cancel school

for the day. The principal jumped up from her desk and jogged down the hall to find the head

custodian. When she found him she told him to round up his team and get to work.

They had to do everything they could to minimize the spread of this disease.

From disinfecting the cafeteria, to deep cleaning the bathrooms,

to shutting down water fountains, whatever they had to do.

Then the principal was speed walking back to her office when she heard the shrill alarm of the

morning bell. Then she heard the heavy metallic sound of the front doors opening

followed by the dull roar of students, surge the heavy metallic sound of the front doors opening

followed by the dull roar of students surging into the building for the day.

The principal tried not to panic, but she knew

...