An elementary school in Alabama, Fairhope West Elementary, has been compelled to shut down for the rest of the week due to a mysterious stomach bug outbreak. Nearly 800 children and half of its staff were reported sick, prompting worried parents to express their concerns. State health officials suspect the cause to be norovirus, a highly contagious stomach bug surging in the US.

The closure is set to allow for a thorough deep cleaning of the school premises to eradicate the virus. Baldwin County Schools, responsible for the elementary, mentioned that not all absent students and staff were necessarily sick, as some stayed home as a precaution. The outbreak has caused alarm among the community, with some parents donning face masks while collecting their children.

Testing is underway by the Alabama Department of Health, with results expected in the next few weeks. A nearby school, Fairhope East Elementary, has also witnessed a rise in norovirus cases. Nationwide, similar outbreaks have led to school closures in other states like Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Texas.

The situation highlights a surge in norovirus cases across the country. Dr. Andrea Garcia, a gastrointestinal diseases expert at the American Medical Association, emphasized the increasing positivity rates for norovirus since early January. Officials are addressing the situation swiftly, aiming to contain the spread of the illness and ensure that the school is thoroughly sanitized before students return.