Five-hundred students were absent at Mattawan (Mich.) High School on Jan. 27 after an unidentified stomach illness sickened much of the student population the day prior, according to MLive.com.
Not all the absent students were sick. Some parents kept their kids home to avoid illness. While there is no confirmation on the exact culprit behind the illnesses, norovirus — a stomach bug that can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea — is a likely possibility, according to the report.
"In researching norovirus and asking the professionals if this may be what has affected our students and some staff at the high school, they have confirmed this may indeed be what our families are dealing with as there are multiple cases throughout West Michigan," wrote Mattawan Consolidated Schools superintendent Robin Buchler, PhD, in an announcement.
Sign up for our FREE E-Weekly for more coverage like this sent to your inbox!
The school's custodians have conducted extra disinfectant efforts, including thorough bleach cleaning across the school's facilities and buses.
When asked what the community can do to limit the spread of infection, Dr. Buchler told MLive.com, "Wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands."
More articles on infection control:
E. Coli can develop antibiotic resistance in just days, researchers find
Accepted endoscope reprocessing regimens aren't always effective, study shows
Visitor at Akron City Children's Hospital NICU potentially exposed patients, staff to TB