School warns parents: Stomach bug targeting local students

Official says affected students have been from the same classroom

Posted 1/17/19

Officials at a Barrington elementary school notified parents on Wednesday, Jan. 16, about an increased number of students who had fallen ill.

According to the letter, some students at Sowams …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Register to post events


If you'd like to post an event to our calendar, you can create a free account by clicking here.

Note that free accounts do not have access to our subscriber-only content.

Day pass subscribers

Are you a day pass subscriber who needs to log in? Click here to continue.


School warns parents: Stomach bug targeting local students

Official says affected students have been from the same classroom

Posted

Officials at a Barrington elementary school notified parents on Wednesday, Jan. 16, about an increased number of students who had fallen ill.

According to the letter, some students at Sowams School (which services kindergarten through third grade) have been exhibiting symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. 

"Our school nurse teacher has been working closely with the Rhode Island Department of Health to prevent more illnesses," stated the letter. "The symptoms our students are having are common with stomach viruses, such as norovirus, which typically cause illness for one to two days and then pass."

Barrington Superintendent of Schools Michael Messore said the district was required to notify parents about the situation. He said fewer than 10 students have been sick. 

"We've got a whole team in there cleaning," said Mr. Messore, who added that the students who had become sick were all from one classroom. 

According to the letter, a group of custodians and other staff went through the school "doing extra cleaning of restrooms, desks, doorknobs and other frequently touched surfaces to help keep the virus from spreading."

Mr. Messore said he had heard that other schools in Rhode Island have been experiencing similar situations recently.

The letter to parents of Sowams School students offered a brief explanation of how stomach viruses can be passed from one person to another. It also offered some helpful tips to prevent the virus from spreading. It stated that any students who are nauseous or vomiting or who have diarrhea should not go to school, social events or extracurricular activities until the symptoms have passed.

In addition to other steps, it also recommended people wash their hands after going to the bathroom, changing a diaper or cleaning up after an ill child. 

"Any household member with similar symptoms who works at a restaurant, childcare center or healthcare facility must stay home from work until at least two days after vomiting and diarrhea have stopped."

Mr. Messore said no teachers or staff members have become sick with this stomach virus at Sowams School.

2024 by East Bay Media Group

Barrington · Bristol · East Providence · Little Compton · Portsmouth · Tiverton · Warren · Westport
Meet our staff
MIKE REGO

Mike Rego has worked at East Bay Newspapers since 2001, helping the company launch The Westport Shorelines. He soon after became a Sports Editor, spending the next 10-plus years in that role before taking over as editor of The East Providence Post in February of 2012. To contact Mike about The Post or to submit information, suggest story ideas or photo opportunities, etc. in East Providence, email mrego@eastbaymediagroup.com.