An outbreak of a highly contagious gastrointestinal illness caused more than 1,200 students to miss school in an Alabama school district Wednesday.
More than half of the infected children were from a single school, which was closed for the rest of the week as the state Department of Public Health investigates how the virus spread to the students.
Baldwin County Public Schools Superintendent Eddie Tyler said, “Due to the number of staff and students who are absent, as well as the number of people experiencing symptoms, it is unfortunately necessary to close the building to contain the spread.” There is,” he said. A letter to parents.
“We will carry out a deep cleaning of the school while we are out, so we will ensure maximum disinfection when students return next week.”
Health officials have not determined what kind of virus is circulating in school hallways in at least four school districts, calling it simply a “gastrointestinal outbreak.”
Sick students and staff suffered from nausea and vomiting, and quickly recovered from their illnesses.
Fairhope West Elementary School was particularly hard hit, school officials said. told News 5.
Only 24 out of 866 students reported feeling unwell on Tuesday, and that number increased dramatically overnight.
On Wednesday, only 145 students and half of the faculty showed up for class.
Hundreds of students from other nearby elementary, middle and high schools, totaling 1,231 students, were absent from class on Wednesday.
Other schools urged parents to be careful and keep their children home if possible.
Although it has not been officially identified as norovirus, Baldwin County school officials are treating it as such.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, norovirus is a highly contagious virus that causes vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.
Norovirus can infect anyone and make them sick. Norovirus spreads easily through shared food and water and infected surfaces.
