Stomach Bug Hits Coventry School Especially Hard

COVENTRY, RI—An awful stomach bug has spread like wildfire through local schools, particularly at Washington Oak Elementary, where more than 100 children and scores of teachers and staff members have fallen ill.

Custodial crews are busy scrubbing and disinfecting away at the school this weekend in an effort to stem the outbreak, which is typically accompanied by fever and vomiting.

In a letter to parents, Principal Don Cowart said that officials are working hard to clean the building before students return to school on Monday.

School district officials have been in contact with the state Department of Health and officials are keeping an eye on the situation.

There are reports of similar outbreaks in other schools across Rhode Island.

The outbreak led to the cancellation of a PTA meeting on Thursday.

Cowart reminded parents that "anyone who was sick. . .needs to be fever and vomit free for at least 24 hours before they can return to school," he said. "It is really the only way to stop the spreading of this stomach bug."

Has your family been hit by the stomach bug?