Norovirus outbreak hits Bentwood Elementary with 95 confirmed cases

Health officials have confirmed a norovirus outbreak at Bentwood Elementary School in Overland Park, reporting 95 cases among students and staff and two additional cases among family members. The Johnson County Department of Health and Environment (JCDHE) said the total case count could be higher because of the virus’s high contagion rate. Two cases were confirmed by laboratory testing, while the remaining cases are considered epidemiologically linked.

JCDHE Director Charlie Hunt noted that Johnson County typically experiences three to five norovirus outbreaks a year and that the current situation is larger than most but not record-setting. He emphasized that norovirus is unrelated to influenza and that no vaccine or antibiotics are effective against it.

Dr. Dana Hawkinson, infectious disease physician at the University of Kansas Health System, explained that norovirus causes gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and prolonged diarrhea. She advised families to practice thorough hand washing with soap and water, disinfect high-touch surfaces, and keep sick children at home for at least 48 hours after symptoms subside. Hawkinson also warned that immunity wanes over time, making reinfection possible.

The Olathe School District reported that the school first saw absences with similar symptoms on Oct. 8. A professional development day on Oct. 9 resulted in no students on campus, and the district conducted a deep cleaning over the weekend. When absences reached a 10 % threshold on Oct. 12, the district contacted JCDHE, which later declared an outbreak after two positive tests. The school implemented daily deep cleaning and disinfection, and families were notified on Oct. 19. As of the latest update, only one student remains absent with symptoms.

Parent Samantha Pedraza said the outbreak spread faster than typical school illnesses and that hand sanitizer is ineffective against norovirus, prompting her to stress hand washing at home. The school nurse has posted signs to reinforce proper hand-washing practices among students.