GIFFORD – Indian River County school officials are asking parents to keep their children at home from Gifford Middle School after a norovirus outbreak.
The highly contagious intestinal virus was found in the school. About 60 of the 900 students were sick Friday, according to the Indian River County Health Department.
The School District of Indian River County alerted parents through an automated phone call.
Workers from the school district conducted a cleaning of the school to sanitize door handles, drinking fountains, and bathroom facilities.
Middle school students are being asked to wash their hands after using the bathroom.
Outbreaks of norovirus are more likely to occur in schools during winter months of the year. The virus spreads easily and can infect person-to-person through direct contact or by touching contaminated surfaces.
“I am so sorry that so many Gifford students have fallen ill over the past few days,” School Board Member Tiffany Justice wrote on Facebook.
