230 Struck With Stomach Bug at Virginia School

An Alexandria, Virginia, elementary school is closed today to get professionally disinfected after 230 students and staff members came down with a stomach bug. Thirty-three staff members called in sick before Thursday's classes, with five more going home mid-day; and 160 children were absent, with dozens more leaving mid-day. "It was a constant calling of parents during the school day to come and pick up more kids," an official tells the Washington Post.

Almost 200 students—25% of the John Adams Elementary student body—had so far been affected over two days, officials said yesterday. They're reporting nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, and health officials believe the likely cause is the highly contagious norovirus. (More norovirus stories.)