WEST WARWICK, R.I. -- About 25 pupils at the Greenbush School in West Warwick have fallen ill with symptoms typical of norovirus. The Health Department is trying to obtain samples to test in the laboratory and confirm the cause.
Some of those who got sick had attended a father-daughter dance at the Radisson Hotel in Warwick last weekend, but it's not clear if there is any connection. Greenbush has children in pre-kindergarten through fourth grade.
The outbreak comes a week after dozens of Brown University students also came down with vomiting, stomach pain and diarrhea, confirmed to be norovirus. Brown is on spring break this week, which will interrupt the virus's transmission on campus.
The number of norovirus outbreaks this year is no greater than typical, said Health Department spokeswoman Dara Chadwick.
The best defense is frequent and thorough hand washing. Also, carefully disinfect any surface that a sick person comes in contact with and wash linens and clothes.
-- An earlier version of this report, from the Associated Press, was published at 9:01 a.m. It was updated at 1:35 p.m.
Correction: An earlier version of this report incorrectly stated that the Health Department was awaiting laboratory results. However, samples have yet to be collected.