Oct 30, 2008 6:36 pm US/Eastern
Norovirus Sickens Hundreds At Westchester School
Students Being Advised To Stay Home From Hackley School In Tarrytown
TARRYTOWN (CBS) ―
A private school in Westchester will be closed Friday as officials hope to stop an outbreak of stomach flu. More than 250 students and staff at Hackley School have become ill, apparently from the dreaded bug, also known as the norovirus.
Tuition at Hackley is $27,000 a year, but even an elite prep school isn't safe from the common stomach flu bug.
"The children I'm hearing of are getting very, very sick, very severe symptoms," says Tamalyn Stewart, whose children attend the school.
Stewart has two children at the school, including a daughter who stayed home sick Thursday.
"She has a headache right now. She had a stomach ache last night, but she hasn't had the major symptoms yet. She's at home resting right now, I'm heading back there now," she told CBS 2.
More than 200 students and staff at Hackley have reported nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramps, all classic symptoms of the outbreak.
"Norovirus is a very common infection. It's everywhere all the time, it's estimated that up to 40 percent of stomach flu cases are related to norovirus," said Westchester County Health Commissioner Dr. Joshua Lipsman.
Lipsman said the virus is strong suspected, though not confirmed as the cause.
Fortunately for those affected, doctors say the stomach flu misery doesn't last long.
"Usually it is very severe, but then it resolves quickly and people are absolutely fine," said Dr. Cathryn Devons of Phelps Memorial Hospital.
Antibiotics do not work against the norovirus, so those made ill should drink lots of fluids, stay home and avoid contact with others.
Because the norovirus can be passed through contact, the headmaster says every surface at the school has been sanitized. Students have also been given bottles of hand sanitizer, and told to use them.
Earlier this year, a norovirus outbreak was sending 500 people a day to New York City hospitals. Experts say frequent and thorough handwashing is the key to avoiding the stomach flu.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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