A possible outbreak of Norovirus has prompted Amelia County school officials to reach out to parents.
A letter was sent home to parents of Amelia Elementary School students Wednesday after an increased number of absences.
The Piedmont Health District said the outbreak of illnesses may be attributed to Norovirus.
The following letter was sent to parents:
January 11, 2012
Dear Parent or Guardian,
There is an increase in absences among children at Amelia Elementary School due to stomach ache, vomiting, and diarrhea. This may be a result of Norovirus, which is currently circulating in our community.
The most common symptoms of Norovirus include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps. Some individuals develop a low-grade fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, and a general sense of tiredness. The illness is usually brief, with symptoms lasting 1 to 3 days. Occasionally, an individual may be unable to drink enough liquids to replace what they lose from vomiting and diarrhea, leading to dehydration, for which he/she may need to see a doctor.
The virus is very contagious and spreads easily from person to person. The virus is found in the stool and vomit of an infected person. Individuals can become infected in several ways; the most common is through touching surfaces or objects that are contaminated with the virus and then touching their mouth before hand washing. The single most effective measure to prevent the spread of the virus is frequent hand washing with warm water and soap, especially after using the restroom and before eating or preparing food. Because an individual may still be infectious after symptoms have subsided, it is very important to maintain frequent hand washing even after symptoms have stopped. You can find more information on preventing the spread of the virus at the following website: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/revb/gastro/norovirus.htm
Those with Norovirus symptoms are contagious from the moment they feel ill to at least 3 days after the vomiting and diarrhea has stopped, and sometimes up to 28 days later. If your child is ill with these symptoms, keep your child home for at least 24 hours after all diarrhea and vomiting has stopped to prevent the spread of this virus in the school.
The health department is working with the school to control the spread of this virus. The school is taking measures to increase the frequency of cleaning at school and to ensure that proper hand hygiene is being addressed with the staff and students. If you have any questions or concerns, please call the Amelia County School Board Office at (804) 561-2621. If you prefer to speak with someone at the health department regarding this outbreak, please call me at (434) 392-3984.
Sincerely,
Alexander Samuel, M.D. MPH, Director, Piedmont Health District
Copyright 2012 by Young Broadcasting of Richmond
