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Nearly 100 students and staff have been linked to a norovirus outbreak at Bentwood Elementary School in Olathe, Kansas.
Health officials said no hospitalizations had been reported and no new cases reported as of Oct. 13.
Norovirus spreads easily through contaminated food surfaces and close contact, making hand washing especially important, the CDC said.
A norovirus outbreak has affected nearly 100 people at a Kansas elementary school.
There have been 95 reported cases among students and staff linked to an outbreak at Bentwood Elementary School in Olathe, Kansas, according to a joint statement from the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment (JCDHE) and Olathe Public Schools obtained by PEOPLE. Two other cases were reported among family members outside of the school, according to JCDHE Director Charlie Hunt, per KCTV.
Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that causes vomiting and diarrhea, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The agency said the virus spreads “very easily” through contaminated food or liquids, through direct contact with an infected person, or through contact with contaminated objects and surfaces.
Symptoms reported by those affected by the outbreak included vomiting, diarrhea, nausea and stomach pain, according to the joint statement.
A micrograph of norovirus (stock image)
Credit: BSIP/UIG via Getty
Two of the norovirus cases reported at the elementary school were confirmed by laboratory testing, while the remaining cases were considered “epidemiologically linked,” meaning the affected individuals experienced similar symptoms at around the same time and in the same setting, suggesting they were part of the same outbreak.
“Bentwood Elementary first experienced student absences involving similar illness symptoms on October 8,” according to the release.
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No hospitalizations were reported during the outbreak, which is believed to have occurred in early October.
As of October 13, no new cases have been reported. The JCDHE confirmed in a social media post on Wednesday, October 21 that the norovirus outbreak at the school was “over.”
“Throughout the outbreak, JCDHE has worked closely with school officials to monitor illnesses, provide public health guidance, and help prevent further spread,” the school district and health department continued in their joint statement.
“While the outbreak is considered over, JCDHE and Olathe Public Schools will continue to monitor the situation and work together to help protect the health of students, staff and families,” they added.
Dr. Dana Hawkinson, an infectious disease physician and medical director of infection prevention and control at the University of Kansas Health System, told KCTV that such outbreaks can be very common.
“It’s very common to see outbreaks or clusters because this virus, when it’s spread, again, fecally, is very easy to contaminate. So it’s very important to wash your hands with soap and water to help reduce contamination,” Hawkinson said. “But these viruses are very small. And so you don’t know and understand when you’re in contact with them, especially if you’re in a household.”
According to JCDHE director Hunt, according to KCTV, the number of cases was likely higher due to the contagiousness of norovirus.
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The CDC said norovirus is the leading cause of foodborne illness in the United States and causes 58% of foodborne illnesses contracted in the United States. It is responsible for nearly a million pediatric medical visits per year and causes 19 to 21 million illnesses on average each year.
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