Norovirus Outbreak Clobbers Snellville School

SNELLVILLE, GA -- An outbreak of what is believed to be Norovirus has taken a heavy toll on a Snellville elementary school.

On Friday, 102 students were absent at Britt Elementary School and another 25 checked themselves out as sick during the day, Gwinnett County Public Schools spokesman Bernard Watson told the Gwinnett Daily Post.

The school enrolls a total of 595 students.

A day earlier, 40 students had been absent, 22 checked themselves out as sick and four teachers reported being sick.

The school’s administration has sent out various communications, from phone calls to text messages to a letter on the school’s website, alerting students and their families to the situation.

The school district is working with the health department to sanitize the school.

Principal Doris Jones wrote in the online letter that students have been coming down ill with gastroenteritis, which causes diarrhea and vomiting. She wrote that health officials think the Norovirus is the cause.

Symptoms usually develop in 12-24 hours after being exposed and most people get better in one to two days, the letter said.