About Two-thirds of Students at Wheaton School Are Out Sick

The DuPage County Health Department has determined the gastrointestinal illness that left much of Edison Middle School's student population sick this past week was norovirus, according to a Thursday letter for the health department to Edison parents. 

Norovirus is a very contagious virus and you can get norovirus from an infected person, contaminated food or water, or by touching contaminated surface, according to the Center for Disease Control. Symptoms of the virus include diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, stomach pain, fever, headache and body aches, according to the CDC. 

The DuPage County Health Department is now working with school officials and the Illinois Department of Public Health to prevent the virus from spreading, and the investigation into the illness is ongoing, according to the DuPage County Department of Health. 

On Monday, 465 of the 700 students at Edison Middle School called in sick, according to the Daily Herald. On Tuesday, those absences were down to 180 and on Wednesday, there were 89 reported absences, according to the Daily Herald.

Most people with norovirus illness will experience a mild illness and get better within 1 to 3 days, though illness can lead to dehydration, especially in young children, older adults, and people with other underlying conditions, according to the DuPage County Department of Health. 

The county health department offers the following tips for preventing the spread of norovirus: 

• Frequently wash your hands with soap and water, especially after using the bathroom and before eating, preparing, or handling food. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds (hum the "Happy Birthday" song from beginning to end twice). Alcohol-based hand sanitizers can be used in addition to hand washing, but they should not be used as a substitute for washing with soap and water.

• Thoroughly clean and disinfect contaminated surfaces immediately after an episode of diarrhea or vomiting by using a bleach-based household cleaner. If using liquid household bleach prepared daily, one part bleach to nine parts water (1:10 dilution, or 2/3 cup bleach to 1 gallon of water) is recommended.

The health department offers the following tips for those who have sick children or children who have experienced symptoms of gastrointestinal illness and/or dehydration:

• Contact your physician for evaluation and appropriate treatment.

• Refrain from food preparation while you have symptoms and for 48 hours after recovery from illness.

Visit the Edison Middle School website to read the full letter from the DuPage County Department of Health.