Norovirus sickened more than 300 students at an Arkansas middle school last week, causing the school to shut its doors Friday.
At least a third of the 900 children who attend Hellstern Middle School in Springfield and several staff either stayed home or fell ill at school Thursday, complaining of gastrointestinal symptoms, reported NWA. At the time, the cause of their illnesses remained unknown.
Then on Monday, health officials announced that Norovirus was likely the responsible pathogen.
All stool samples taken from sick children tested positive for the virus, said Springfield district spokesperson Rick Schaeffer, according to NWA.
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