Fairhope, Alabama – More than 1,200 students were absent on Wednesday after a highly contagious gastrointestinal illness spread through schools in Baldwin County. The outbreak affected multiple schools in the district, resulting in over half of the infected students coming from a single school. As a precautionary measure, school officials decided to shut down the affected school for the remainder of the week to allow the state Department of Public Health to investigate the situation.
The decision to close the school was made due to the high number of absences among both students and staff, along with the severity of symptoms reported. Baldwin County Public Schools Superintendent Eddie Tyler explained in a letter to parents that the closure was necessary to contain the spread of the illness. Additionally, a deep cleaning of the school will be conducted to ensure that the learning environment is sanitized before students return.
Health officials have not yet identified the specific virus responsible for the outbreak but have referred to it as a “gastrointestinal outbreak.” Symptoms reported by affected individuals include nausea, vomiting, and a rapid onset of illness. Fairhope West Elementary School was particularly hard hit by the outbreak, with a significant increase in the number of sick students overnight.
In response to the outbreak, several other schools in the district also reported a high number of student absences. In total, 1,231 students were absent from school on Wednesday, prompting officials to urge parents to keep their children at home if possible. While the illness has not been officially identified as the norovirus, school officials are treating it as such, given the symptoms reported by those affected.
Norovirus is known for causing vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain and is highly contagious, spreading easily through contaminated food, water, and surfaces. To prevent further spread of the illness, schools are taking proactive measures to ensure the safety and well-being of students and staff. Health officials continue to monitor the situation closely and provide guidance on how to prevent further transmission of the virus.