Norovirus suspected culprit in Highline schools’ student illnesses
Mar 4, 2015, 8:39 AM | Updated: 2:26 pm
(AP Photo/File)
An increase in absences at Cascade Middle School and two other Seattle schools are thought to be linked to the norovirus.
Several students from Cascade have been sick with symptoms similar to the virus, according to a letter from Highline Public Schools.
“We are working with Public Health […] because this is suspected to be norovirus, which has symptoms similar to stomach flu,” the letter states.
Norovirus infections are extremely contagious and can quickly become an outbreak.
Cascade joins Beverly Park Elementary and Southern Heights Elementary, which have also reported outbreaks.
The school district is cleaning school buses to try and eliminate the spread of the virus, KOMO reports.
Southern Heights was the first to report an outbreak.
The district asks to keep children who show symptoms home until 48 hours after the symptoms have stopped.