Nearly 100 cases of norovirus reported at Kansas elementary school, officials say
A Kansas elementary school suffered an outbreak of norovirus that impacted nearly 100 people, health officials said.
The outbreak at Bentwood Elementary School in Olathe, Kansas, began in early October and spread to 95 cases of norovirus among students and staff and two cases among family members, officials with the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment and Olathe Public Schools told ABC News in a statement Thursday.
Two of the cases were confirmed through laboratory testing, with the remaining cases being "epidemiologically linked, meaning individuals experienced similar symptoms around the same time and in the same setting," officials said.
Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that is the most common cause of viral gastroenteritis, an inflammation of the inside lining of the gastrointestinal tract.
According to school and county health officials, people impacted by the outbreak at Bentwood Elementary experienced symptoms including vomiting, diarrhea, nausea and stomach pain.
No hospitalizations were reported, and no new cases have been reported since Oct. 13, officials said.
"Throughout the outbreak, JCDHE worked closely with school officials to monitor illnesses, provide public health guidance and help prevent further spread," the school district and health department said in a joint statement. "Although the outbreak is considered over, JCDHE and the Olathe Public Schools will continue to monitor the situation and work together to help protect the health of students, staff and families."
What to know about norovirus
Norovirus is the leading cause of foodborne illness in the U.S., causing 58% of those illnesses each year, according to the CDC.
Annually, around 21 million Americans are diagnosed with norovirus.
The most common symptoms for norovirus are nausea, vomiting, stomach pain and diarrhea. Patients can also experience fever, headaches and body aches.
Norovirus is incredibly contagious and frequently reported in school settings, where children interact in close quarters.
Most people recover within 1 to 3 days but can still spread the virus for a few days after.
The most effective way to prevent the spread of norovirus is hand washing with soap and water, according to the CDC. Hand sanitizer does not kill norovirus.
Current CDC data show that cases of norovirus are at medium levels nationally, without significant spikes.
