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Stomach flu

Stomach flu outbreak terrorizes school in Washington state, sickening over 100 students, staff

A nasty Norovirus outbreak is terrorizing Washington state, forcing hundreds of kids to stay home and dozens of schools to close.

Seattle Public Schools tweeted that Leschi Elementary will be closed Friday for cleaning because of the stomach flu outbreak. Over 100 students and staff members reported being sick Thursday.

“There have not been other reports of a greater-than-normal number of cases of illness among students and staff at any other school in the district,” SPS spokesperson Tim Robinson said in a statement to KING-TV.

Seattle Public Schools anticipates Leschi Elementary to open Monday.  

Washington Elementary School’s campus was cleaned and disinfected Wednesday after more than 50 students called out sick. District spokesman Pat Nuzzo said the district is also monitoring Harney Elementary School where 40 students were out sick.

Vancouver Public Schools also reported dozens of students out sick at several elementary schools, also prompting cleaning, disinfecting and a letter to parents warning them of the symptoms of the virus.

The Columbian reports at Harry S. Truman Elementary School, 72 of the school’s approximately 520 students were out Wednesday, 61 on Tuesday and 82 Monday. Students have fever, coughing and flu-like symptoms, Nuzzo said.

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Some students also had vomiting and diarrhea, symptoms of viral gastroenteritis, prompting the district to send a letter to parents. District staff are advising that parents keep ill children at home until they’re well for a full 24 hours. District maintenance staff cleaned and disinfected the school Tuesday.

According to the Mayo Clinic’s website, people infected with the Norovirus may still be contagious for three days after feeling better.

Contributing: Associated Press. Follow Adrianna Rodriguez on Twitter: @AdriannaUSAT.

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