GRAND JUNCTION – Health officials say reports of an illness causing acute vomiting in hundreds of students across western Colorado has decreased to normal levels following efforts to disinfect schools over Thanksgiving break.
The Daily Sentinel reports that all 46 schools in Mesa County Valley School District 51 serving Grand Junction and the surrounding area closed early ahead of the scheduled break for deep cleaning after students and staff members developed symptoms.
Officials say the number of students absent remained well below the 10% threshold that would trigger a deep cleaning of an individual school.
District officials say the virus is still present despite efforts but that schools were open and would continue normal disinfectant procedures in affected classrooms.
Officials say parents are encouraged to keep students experiencing symptoms at home for at least 24 hours past when the symptoms subside.
Norovirus is a highly contagious bug that causes diarrhea, vomiting and other symptoms and can spread quickly in public places.
District officials say the outbreak was first seen at Palisade High School in November before spreading to other schools, and it is not clear how many students and staff members became sick.
