Pittsburgh Montessori PreK-8 Closed Friday Due to Norovirus

A high volume of student and staff illness-related absences at Pittsburgh Montessori School prompted the school district to contact the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) and then decided to close the school tomorrow, Friday, Oct. 28.

The ACHD has determined the illness was most likely caused by a virus referred to as norovirus. The closing will allow the district’s maintenance team to thoroughly clean the building and to prevent further infections of students and staff.

Classes will resume on Monday, Oct. 31, allowing more than adequate time for the illness to run its course, according to district spokesperson Ebony Pugh. 

The PreK-8 magnet school is located on South Graham Street in Friendship.

Norovirus is very contagious and is primarily transmitted through contact with stool or vomit and by touching contaminated surfaces. Common symptoms associated with norovirus are diarrhea, vomiting and stomach pain. A loss of energy, mild headache and low grade fever are sometimes present.

There is no specific treatment for norovirus and symptoms usually resolve within 24-48 hours. Dehydration is the most common complication.