Norovirus confirmed; illness seen at Brown

State health officials have confirmed norovirus as the reason behind a recent outbreak of gastroenteritis that closed the Seymour Middle School Sixth Grade Center on Nov. 6.

They now suspect the same illness has spread to Margaret R. Brown Elementary School, after many students were absent or sent home Friday with similar symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea.

“We’re treating it like it is the same virus,” said Paul Ramsey, an environmentalist with Jackson County Health Department. “But we haven’t gathered enough data to know for sure.”

Ramsey said Sunday they are working to stop the virus from spreading further.

“A state epidemiologist has been in contact with Brown School and we are sharing information with parents on precautions they can take at home to stop it from spreading,” he said. “The schools are also taking precautions.”

It is unknown how the virus originated.

A sample Ramsey sent from the Sixth Grade Center to the Indiana State Health Department came back positive for norovirus, which causes the highly contagious illness involving inflammation of the stomach and intestines that affected more than 100 students and two teachers.

“I received the results on Friday,” he said. That’s also when he received word that around 50 students at Brown were exhibiting similar symptoms.

“We are still gathering information and the state will do some interviewing to determine how this might be spreading,” he said.

One possible way is through family contact.

“A sixth-grader goes home and gives it to their younger sibling and then that child carries it with them to the elementary school,” he said. “At least that’s our assumption right now.”

The virus is easily spread because it can remain infectious on surfaces for up to 72 hours and only a very small amount of virus is needed to cause infection.

Ramsey said the schools have done a good job of responding to the situation.

“They have stepped right in and started cleaning and disinfecting classrooms and surfaces right away,” he said. “The schools are being vigilant in cleaning and observant of what is going on.”

Teran Armstrong, superintendent of Seymour Community Schools, could not be reached for comment Sunday night.

Preventing norovirus

To prevent the spread of norovirus, children and adults should:

Practice good hygiene, including thoroughly washing hands with soap and water after using the restroom, changing diapers, assisting someone with diarrhea or vomiting, swimming and before, during and after food preparation.

Clean food preparation work surfaces, equipment and utensils with soap and water before, during and after food preparation.

Eat safe foods and drink safe water; wash all produce before eating raw or cooking and use treated water for washing, cooking and drinking.

Persons with diarrhea and or vomiting should not prepare food or provide health care for others; should limit direct contact with others; should not attend a child care facility or school; should not go swimming or use hot tubs for at least two weeks after diarrhea stops.