Bethlehem Twp. school going virtual after flu outbreak, as flu, norovirus cases circulate in the area – 69News WFMZ-TV

BETHLEHEM TWP., Pa. - A staff member confirms Bethlehem Township's Notre Dame High School is virtual because of a flu outbreak.

A quarter of the students were out sick Thursday.

We also spoke to someone impacted by the norovirus, a virus where there is no vaccine and washing your hands is the best protection.

All of a sudden, he just went in, vomited here now, and then he had a lot of diarrhea,Bethlehem's Jennifer Jones said as she described the weeklong fall fight her 8-year-old son Dallas had with the norovirus.

It was just constant cleaning up after him and constant showers, she said.

Current CDC data show the Northeast region of the country has the highest positivity rate of the very contagious stomach bug which causes vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps.

You could be feeling fine one minute, and just feeling completely nauseated the next minute, said Dr. Michael Kimzey, the head of Infectious Disease at Doylestown Health.

Kimzey says there is no vaccine for the typically two-to-three day highly contagious virus, that severely dehydrates the body, and can be contracted by touching a tabletop or shaking a hand.

Alcohol rinses that we use, they will not protect you, they don't get rid of this virus. So really the only way to cleanse your hands is going to be using soap and water, he said.

The norovirus uptick comes during flu season, according to staff. Bethlehem Township's Notre Dame High is virtual Friday due to the flu.

Luckily, we rarely see both at the same time, you're just struck with one or the other. But both can cause severe disease, Kimzey said of the flu and norovirus mixing.

As for Dallas, he's back to full strength.

He has a lot of allergies, like seasonal allergies. Other than that, he's fine. Yeah, he's fine, he said.

Doctors say get the flu vaccine, and drink a lot of liquids if you have the norovirus.

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Bethlehem Twp. school going virtual after flu outbreak, as flu, norovirus cases circulate in the area - 69News WFMZ-TV