Johnson Creek Elementary School closed Dec. 6 due to norovirus outbreak

Updated: 3:17 p.m. on Dec. 6, 2019

JOHNSON CREEK, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Classes were canceled Friday at Johnson Creek Elementary School after more than 30-percent of its students got sick.

In recent days, the number of students who were calling out sick and showing symptoms at the school grew. 

The Jefferson County Health Department says it could be a gastrointestinal infection caused by the norovirus, so the school decided to close and disinfect the building through the weekend.

"They will go room to room cleaning all the flat surfaces, all the items students handle frequently, all the doorknobs," said superintendent Dr. Michael Garvey.

The middle school and high school remained open. And while the symptoms of this outbreak mimicked the stomach flu and influenza, county health officials noted they don't yet know what the illness exactly is yet.

"Well right now, we really don't have a diagnosis," said Jefferson Co. Health Department Director Gail Scott. "It's way too early in the investigation. So what we're looking at is a potential norovirus...so it's just norovirus...which is a gastrointestinal illness."

To avoid getting sick, practice good hand hygiene, avoid close contact with people who are sick, and clean and disinfect your environment frequently.

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Posted: 8:49 p.m. on Dec. 5, 2019

JOHNSON CREEK, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Johnson Creek Elementary School will be closed Friday, Dec. 6 due to a norovirus outbreak.

The district superintendent says a company will be brought in to disinfect the building Friday, after the total number of ill students rose to 30-percent Thursday.

The Jefferson County Health Department says the exact cause of the illness isn't known, but it resembles a gastrointestinal virus.

The closure will only affect the elementary school. The middle school, high school and alternative schools will remain open.