Suspected norovirus outbreak closes Massachusetts school for second day after 130 student absences
A suspected norovirus outbreak has forced an elementary school in Medford, Massachusetts to close for a second day after more than 130 students got sick.
There was no school for students and staff Thursday, Dec. 11 at the Roberts Elementary School. School will be closed again on Friday. All other Medford schools remain open with normal attendance rates, school leadership said.
"There were over 130 student absences at the Roberts on Wednesday, and more families have informed building and district leadership in the last 24 hours of their child experiencing symptoms of a stomach bug," school administrators wrote in an update Thursday.
At least 20 staff members at the school are also now sick.
Roberts Elementary School enrolls nearly 600 students in grades Pre-K through fifth grade.
"Deep clean" after norovirus outbreak
Professionals have been deep cleaning the school. The Medford Board of Health and Department of Public Health inspected the school Wednesday and Thursday and determined the illness outbreak is not related to any school or kitchen equipment, according to Medford Superintendent of Schools Suzanne Galusi.
"While the building has been deemed safe and clean by the Board of Health, District & School leaders have determined there would not be a reasonable number of students and staff members present to have a structured and safe learning environment," Galusi said in cancelling classes for Friday.
The deep clean includes classrooms, door knobs, kitchen equipment, and other frequently touched surfaces. The cleaning process is expected to be finished by the end of the day Thursday.
Students and staff will have to make up the missed school days later in the year.
The Board of Health is recommending that anyone who is sick wait 24 hours after experiencing nausea or vomiting before they return to school.
"It's a very big outbreak for a school setting. We see big outbreaks like this on cruise ships," said Dr. Shira Doron, the chief infection control officer at Tufts Medical Center. "This magnitude of an outbreak suggests some additional investigations are necessary."
What is norovirus?
According to the Centers for Disease Control, norovirus is the leading cause of vomiting, diarrhea and foodborne illness in the country.
It is "very contagious," the agency says, and can spread from person-to-person or via contaminated food and surfaces.
The best way to prevent norovirus is to stay away from others if you're feeling sick, and to wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Experts say hand sanitizer is not very effective against norovirus.
The CDC said in late November that norovirus cases were rising around the United States in recent weeks ahead of the holiday season.