Medford school closed for second day by suspected norovirus outbreak

A Medford elementary school will remain closed for the second day in a row due to a suspected norovirus outbreak, school officials said Thursday.

Roberts Elementary School was closed Thursday after more than 130 students were absent Wednesday, Medford Public Schools Interim Superintendent Suzanne Galusi and Roberts Elementary Principal Michelle Crowell said in a letter to families. Classes were canceled so a professional company could deep-clean the building and the Medford Board of Health could conduct an inspection.

Since then, more families have informed the district of sick students with norovirus symptoms, and more than 20 staff members have also experienced similar symptoms, officials said. Student and staff attendance at other schools in the district have not been affected.

“While the building has been deemed safe and clean by the Board of Health, District & School leaders have determined there would not be a reasonable number of students and staff members present to have a structured and safe learning environment,” Galusi and Crowell said in the statement.

The Medford Board of Health’s inspection found no issues with any school or kitchen equipment, leading officials to suspect that norovirus is the cause of the outbreak. The board is reaching out to families who are experiencing norovirus symptoms, according to Galusi and Crowell.

All other schools in the district will have classes Friday, officials said. The district is also “developing plans” with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to make up for the lost school days.

How to prevent the spread of norovirus

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has cited norovirus as “the leading cause of vomiting and diarrhea and warned that it is “very contagious,” spreading “very easily and quickly.”

The virus is most commonly spread through sick people and contaminated food, water, or surfaces, according to the CDC. People with norovirus are most contagious both when they’re sick and during the first few days after their recovery, resulting in an increased risk of spreading it.

While norovirus is extremely contagious, the CDC has recommended several prevention measures to keep people and their families safe. The most effective solution is to wash your hands often with soap and water — hand sanitizer alone is not very effective against norovirus — for at least 20 seconds, especially in the presence of food, medicine, and waste.

The CDC also advises safe food handling and preparation, including washing produce, keeping cooking surfaces clean, and throwing away food that might be contaminated.

When cleaning surfaces, the CDC recommends wearing gloves and disinfecting the area using a chlorine bleach solution. Washing laundry thoroughly with detergent and hot water can also help prevent the spread of norovirus.