Norovirus outbreak sickens more than 100 Arlington students
ARLINGTON, Wash. -- Norovirus has sickened some 100 to 140 students of Eagle Creek Elementary School, school officials said on Wednesday.
District officials has notified the Snohomish County Health District of the outbreak, which is affecting 20 percent of the school's student body.
"It's very scary that it spread so quick," said parent Tiffany Galliway. "Because everyone was fine yesterday and then today, all of a sudden, all this happens."
Galliway doesn't want to send her daughter to school on Thursday. Eight-year-old Jaiden Galliway saw two of her friends vomit in class.
"Yeah, my two best friends went home today," she said on Wednesday. "Gauge -- he never came to school. And he comes to school every single day because he never gets sick."
Gilman said the district is working to minimize the spread of the virus.
"We're working directly with the health district. So far they have not made any solid recommendations. We chose as a district to do some extra cleaning," said district spokesman Mark Gilman.
"Today at class, we had to wash our hands at the end of the day and we had to wipe off our desks three times," said Jaiden Galliway.
Symptoms of norovirus include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and some stomach cramping, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Some patients also experience low-grade fever, chills, headache, muscle aches and a general sense of tiredness.
The CDC says the illness often begins suddenly, and the patients may feel very sick. The illness typically lasts one or two days.
District officials has notified the Snohomish County Health District of the outbreak, which is affecting 20 percent of the school's student body.
"It's very scary that it spread so quick," said parent Tiffany Galliway. "Because everyone was fine yesterday and then today, all of a sudden, all this happens."
Galliway doesn't want to send her daughter to school on Thursday. Eight-year-old Jaiden Galliway saw two of her friends vomit in class.
"Yeah, my two best friends went home today," she said on Wednesday. "Gauge -- he never came to school. And he comes to school every single day because he never gets sick."
Gilman said the district is working to minimize the spread of the virus.
"We're working directly with the health district. So far they have not made any solid recommendations. We chose as a district to do some extra cleaning," said district spokesman Mark Gilman.
"Today at class, we had to wash our hands at the end of the day and we had to wipe off our desks three times," said Jaiden Galliway.
Symptoms of norovirus include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and some stomach cramping, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Some patients also experience low-grade fever, chills, headache, muscle aches and a general sense of tiredness.
The CDC says the illness often begins suddenly, and the patients may feel very sick. The illness typically lasts one or two days.