Health officials in Johnson County, Kansas, have confirmed a norovirus outbreak at Bentwood Elementary School in Overland Park, with 97 cases reported over the past week, KCTV/Gray News reported Wednesday¹.

Of those cases, 95 are students and staff at the school and two are family members outside it, said Charlie Hunt, director of the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment¹. Two cases have been confirmed by lab testing; the rest are counted as linked because people had similar symptoms at the same time in the same setting, the department said¹.

Hunt said the real number is likely higher because the virus spreads so easily¹. He said about 2,500 norovirus outbreaks are reported nationally each year, a figure he also called an undercount¹.

Norovirus causes vomiting and diarrhea and is unrelated to influenza despite the "stomach flu" nickname, Hunt said; there is no vaccine, and antibiotics do not work against it¹. Officials urged handwashing with soap and water, disinfecting surfaces, and staying home for at least 48 hours after symptoms end¹.

The report did not say whether the school has changed its schedule or closed classrooms¹.

Sources

1. KWCH 12Nearly 100 cases of norovirus reported inside one elementary school, health officials sayOct 21, 1:55 PM
2. Alaska's News SourceNearly 100 cases of norovirus reported inside one elementary school, health officials sayOct 21, 1:55 PM
3. WSFA 12Nearly 100 cases of norovirus reported inside one elementary school, health officials sayOct 21, 1:55 PM
4. KAIT 8Nearly 100 cases of norovirus reported inside one elementary school, health officials sayOct 21, 1:55 PM
5. azfamilyNearly 100 cases of norovirus reported inside one elementary school, health officials sayOct 21, 1:55 PM

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1. Atlanta News FirstNearly 100 cases of norovirus reported inside one elementary school, health officials sayOct 21, 1:55 PM
2. Hawaii News NowNearly 100 cases of norovirus reported inside one elementary school, health officials sayOct 21, 1:55 PM
3. KCRGNearly 100 cases of norovirus reported inside one elementary school, health officials sayOct 21, 1:55 PM
4. KMVTNearly 100 cases of norovirus reported inside one elementary school, health officials sayOct 21, 1:55 PM
5. WKYTNearly 100 cases of norovirus reported inside one elementary school, health officials sayOct 21, 1:55 PM
6. WLBT 3Nearly 100 cases of norovirus reported inside one elementary school, health officials sayOct 21, 1:55 PM
7. WBTVNearly 100 cases of norovirus reported inside one elementary school, health officials sayOct 21, 1:55 PM
8. KFYRNearly 100 cases of norovirus reported inside one elementary school, health officials sayOct 21, 1:55 PM
9. Valley News LiveNearly 100 cases of norovirus reported inside one elementary school, health officials sayOct 21, 1:55 PM
10. WOWTNearly 100 cases of norovirus reported inside one elementary school, health officials sayOct 21, 1:55 PM
11. FOX19Nearly 100 cases of norovirus reported inside one elementary school, health officials sayOct 21, 1:55 PM
12. 13 ABCNearly 100 cases of norovirus reported inside one elementary school, health officials sayOct 21, 1:55 PM
13. WISNearly 100 cases of norovirus reported inside one elementary school, health officials sayOct 21, 1:55 PM
14. KOTANearly 100 cases of norovirus reported inside one elementary school, health officials sayOct 21, 1:55 PM
15. Dakota News NowNearly 100 cases of norovirus reported inside one elementary school, health officials sayOct 21, 1:55 PM
16. WCAXNearly 100 cases of norovirus reported inside one elementary school, health officials sayOct 21, 1:55 PM
17. WSAZNearly 100 cases of norovirus reported inside one elementary school, health officials sayOct 21, 1:55 PM

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