Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023 | 10:05 p.m.
Over 70 confirmed and probable cases of norovirus have been associated with a suspected outbreak of the extremely contagious gastrointestinal illness at Wayne Tanaka Elementary School in Las Vegas, the Southern Nevada Health District said in a release Thursday.
The outbreak was first reported Jan. 27 at the school in the southwest Las Vegas Valley, and the health district has been working with the Clark County School District to investigate. The health district reported a total of 71 cases as of Thursday, including two confirmed through laboratory testing and 69 through interviews that met the criteria for a probable case.
Outbreaks of norovirus, a very contagious illness that spreads from person to person, can frequently occur in settings like a school campus and the origin of the outbreak can often be difficult to determine, the health district said.
The illness can spread through direct contact with an infected person, by consuming contaminated food or water or touching contaminated surfaces before touching your mouth, the health district said. Proper hand hygiene, like washing your hands thoroughly, is especially important after using the toilet, changing a diaper and before drinking, eating or handling food.
Symptoms — including diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and more — usually develop within 12 to 48 hours after exposure, and most people recover within one to three days, the health district said.
