Stomach bug creeps into metro schools

A stomach virus is floating around several school districts in Oklahoma, having a big impact on students in the metro.

Wednesday, January 30th 2008, 7:48 pm

By: News 9


By Jacqueline Sit, NEWS 9

A stomach virus is floating around several school districts in Oklahoma, having a big impact on students in the metro.

The Millwood School's nurse tells us she's seen a lot of students and teachers calling in sick about 65 today, and majority of them is because of the stomach bug.

It's becoming an all too common sight Millwood Public Schools nurse, Debbie Murphy, sees everyday; a virus that's literally making kids sick to their stomach.

"This is definitely the time of the year you see them," Murphy said. "Kids are in more because of the weather, because of close quarters with other students."

Millwood public schools aren't the only district hit by the bug. Edmond schools also caught the stomach virus that's been floating around for weeks now, and Dr. Bill Edwards says it's not just affecting the little ones.

"Our concerns are with the very young children who can be dehydrated quickly and the elderly who have other health problems," Dr. Bill Edwards, First Medic Urgent Care Clinic, said.

Dr. Edwards says about seven patients are showing up with the same symptoms every day. Those symptoms are diarrhea and frequent vomiting.

"These are not bacterial infections or virus infections, so antibiotics wouldn't be any benefit on this," Edwards said.

Health experts say there is no medicine to get rid of the bug.

"They need plenty of good uninterrupted sleep and of course good nutrition and hydration, plenty of fluids," Murphy said.

Health experts expect the virus to be around for at least another two weeks.

Several school districts say they have seen an increase in the number of upper respiratory cases and colds.

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