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Contagious illness forces Rockdale school to close for a day

A norovirus outbreak has sickened a large number of students at one elementary school, officials said.

ROCKDALE COUNTY, Ga. — School is out on Monday for one metro Atlanta school -- it's due to an outbreak of norovirus. 

The Rockdale County Schools sent out a notice saying that large numbers of students and staff at Shoal Creek Elementary reported symptoms of a stomach virus.

School officials hope closing the school will allow the illness to run its course and not continue to spread.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and stomach pain are the most common symptoms. However, stomach flu can also lead to fever, headache and body aches. 

Norovirus can also cause dehydration due to loss of fluids. That condition can add symptoms such as a decrease in urination, dry mouth and throat and feeling dizzy when standing up.

RELATED: Metro Atlanta school to be closed Monday due to spreading illness

The CDC says that while there is no specific medicine to treat people with norovirus illness, those suffering from the ailment should drink plenty of liquids to replace fluid lost from vomiting and diarrhea. This will help prevent dehydration.

In addition to water, sports drinks and other drinks without caffeine or alcohol can help with mild dehydration. 

There is no specific medicine to treat people with norovirus illness. Antibiotic drugs will not help because they fight bacteria, not viruses. Learn more about antibiotics. Dehydration can lead to serious problems. Severe dehydration may require hospitalization for treatment with fluids given through your vein (intravenous or IV fluids).

The school is also asking parents to keep sick children home until they are well for at least 24 hours without medication.

This is not the first time schools in Rockdale County have had to close for this reason.

Last March, Pine Street Elementary School was closed for two days due to a norovirus outbreak. Also, last September a similar outbreak at Honey Creek Elementary School kept hundreds of kids home when that school shut its doors for a day.

Shoal Creek plans to reopen on Tuesday. 

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