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Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism University of Southern California
Southern California

Norovirus Outbreak in Ventura County Middle School

A stomach virus outbreak caused over 300 absences from a Ventura County middle school.

After a norovirus outbreak last week, Ventura County health officials announced Tuesday that there have been more than 300 absences at Medea Creek Middle School.

(Photo courtesy Creative Commons)
(Photo courtesy Creative Commons)

"It was a lot of the same symptoms, vomiting and high fever. We contacted our county nurse and the Ventura County Public Health physician and they came out and had investigations going with what might've caused it," explained Principal Brad Benioff. "They had suspected right from the beginning that it was the norovirus due to the symptoms being described. It was confirmed over the last weekend that's what the virus was."

Last Thursday 80 students had reported sick, then there were 120 absences that Friday, 93 absences the following Monday and 78 Tuesday. Health Officer Dr. Robert Levin from the Department of Public Health in Ventura County said he was unsure if the absences were the result of illness or worried parents keeping their children home to avoid the virus outbreak.

"It has been eroneously reported in the news. They're a lot of the same students each day so actually it's about 150 students who have actually gotten sick," said Benioff.

"We've been following the number of students who have been out each day, and we have been taking steps to do our best to interrupt the transmission of the virus from one person to another," said Levin.

Norovirus can cause inflammation in the intestine and stomach and may result in pain, diarrhea and vomiting. It is easily transmitted through contaminated food or water, contaminated surfaces, or an infected person.

"We've started cleaning with the protocol and direction of public health. We've been having cleaning crews clean the classroom and any touchable services around campus including computer lab keyboards and lockers and cafeteria area. Anywhere kids are touching things," said Benioff.

(Photo courtesy Creative Commons)
(Photo courtesy Creative Commons)
Officials are having a tough time investigating the origin of the outbreak, but say it is not due to food borne illness.

"We don't know exactly how it came on campus. I don't think contaminated food was brought onto campus," said Benioff.

"We have one child that was sick last Tuesday and then two days later we had 90 children that were sick," explained Levin.

So far, a few school events, including a trip to Catalina Island, have been cancelled but class has resumed normally.

"We cancelled a school dance last Friday and as of actually right now we're postponing a field trip that about 350 of our students were going to go on next week. Even if a couple of kids were contagious it could effect the entire camp and be pretty awful," explained Benioff.

"We're asking everyone who was sick to stay at home for at least 48 hours after they've completely recovered," said Levin.

There have been no specific instances with complaints from parents.

"Parents have been supportive but they're certainly concerned. We've been trying to have constant communication out to the parents but there's definitely concerns. We've still been able to keep the school open," said Benioff.

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