Norovirus in Asheville: It’s confirmed, and it’s spreading, sickening hundreds

From Asheville High School-

Good evening Asheville High and SILSA Families and Staff,

Today more than 150 AHS and SILSA students were home sick or went home sick, significantly more than on a normal day.  We have also received confirmation today that the virus that impacted nearly 200 Dickson students and staff last week was, in fact, Norovirus.

Norovirus is very contagious.  It affects the stomach and intestines and commonly causes diarrhea, vomiting, fever & chills.

Public Health officials are working with Asheville City Schools to control the number of students, families and teachers who get sick.  You can help us in two big ways:  Keep students who are sick home until 24 hours after diarrhea and vomiting end.  And encourage everyone to wash their hands with soap and water after using the toilet and before making, serving or eating food. By the way, hand sanitizers do NOT work with this virus. Bleach products are best for killing this germ but never use bleach straight.

More information is posted on the main ACS website.  Or you call the Health Department at 250-5109.

Thanks for being alert to this situation and for taking the necessary precautions. We will continue to closely monitor the situation on the AHS campus and at all or other schools and meanwhile, we are wiping down surfaces each afternoon at all our schools.  

Here is a Norovirus Fact Sheet:

Norovirus Fact Sheet_ENGLISH march 2014 health department 

From the Asheville Citizen-Times:

Tests have confirmed an outbreak of the norovirus at an Asheville elementary school.

The Asheville Citizen-Times reported that city officials are worried the virus has spread to Asheville High School. Officials said more than 160 students were absent or left school early Tuesday.

Image link for norovirus.