Possible Norovirus Outbreak In Santa Monica Being Linked To Yosemite

Yosemite, CA — School officials at a middle school in Santa Monica believe that a spike in gastrointestinal illness is tied to a five-day field trip to Yosemite.

The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District sent a letter to parents and staff yesterday, stating, “We learned that 7th grade students from John Adams Middle School were potentially exposed to a gastrointestinal illness during a five-day Yosemite science trip last week, possibly Norovirus. The 190 students, along with the several teachers and parents, returned to Santa Monica on Friday, January 27.”

The letter states that the Los Angeles Public Health Department is investigating the situation, and believes that it originated in Yosemite, as several students started reporting symptoms while at the park. The letter notes that other school districts took part in the field trip, so it may not be isolated to students in Santa Monica. Officials at the middle school are using special products to clean and disinfect classrooms and facilities, per the recommendation of health officials.

For more information about Norovirus, from the federal CDC, click here.