Unknown Illness Closes Portage School

Portage (News 3)
WWMT, MI
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Portage, Michigan (US):
A Portage school is canceling classes for a day after nearly a third of its students came down with a stomach illness. The Portage school is telling students at Lake Center Elementary to stay home tomorrow so that a cleaning crew can come in.
Portage Public Schools Superintendent Peter McFarlane says school administrators knew right away something was wrong when the phones started ringing this morning with parents saying their children were sick. When all was said and done, nearly 160 students either stayed home or went home sick. The rest of the 540 students stayed in school for the day.
Parents reported the symptoms included vomiting and diarrhea. On Wednesday, there were 10 students who went home sick with similar symptoms. The district decided it would call the parents of the sick children and tell them to keep them home tomorrow. Those at school were sent home with a letter telling them classes were off for tomorrow.
Nov 17, 2005