Norovirus prompts closure of 3 Sacramento County schools

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SACRAMENTO COUNTY, Calif. (KCRA) — Parents at three Sacramento County schools have been told to pick up their children Thursday due to an illness that broke out in the school district, according to school officials.

Thirty-three students, five teachers and several parents in the Elverta Joint Elementary School District have become infected with norovirus, the district superintendent told KCRA 3. Most of the sick cases came from Elverta Elementary School.

Parents of children at Elverta Elementary School, Alpha Middle School and Alpha Charter School are being asked to pick their students up immediately, the superintendent said.

As a precaution, all three schools will be closed until Monday as janitorial crews work to clean the schools.

Below is a note that was sent out Thursday to parents in the district:

"Hello Parents and Families,

"Yesterday afternoon and today we have had many students and adults become ill with gastro-intestinal symptoms. This includes nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

"We are taking this situation seriously, and have been in contact with the Sacramento Public Health Department. As a precaution we will be closing Elverta Elementary, Alpha Middle School and Alpha Charter High School the rest of the day and tomorrow.

"We will deep clean and sanitize our schools, and will reopen on Monday, May 8.

"Thank you for your patience in this matter."

Norovirus is a very contagious virus that causes infected people's stomachs or intestines to become inflamed. It can lead to stomach pain, nausea and diarrhea, and can cause vomiting, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

No additional details have been released.

KCRA 3 has a crew on the way to the school.

This story originally appeared on KCRA.