Boston Public Schools May Have Been Hit By Norovirus

Boston school bus photo by ThoseGuys119 via Flickr/Creative Commons

Norovirus may be back, Boston—but this time, Chipotle isn’t to blame.

A total of approximately 50 students and staff members from three Boston schools—Dorchester’s Up Academy Holland School, Up Academy Dorchester School, and Mattapan’s Young Achievers K-8 School—are sick with a stomach illness that may be norovirus.

A statement from Boston Public Schools says that the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) “cannot confirm at this time whether the symptoms are caused by norovirus or generalized GI illness, but have not ruled them out as causes.”

The affected schools are being thoroughly cleaned, and have been inspected by the BPHC. As norovirus and other gastrointestinal illnesses are highly contagious, parents of children at those schools are encouraged to keep students home if they show any symptoms. Norovirus’ characteristic symptoms include nausea, vomiting, cramps and abdominal pain, diarrhea, fatigue, fever, and aches and pains.