MILROY - Norovirus has been identified as the cause of a multitude of student illnesses at Armagh Elementary School, according to a notice posted on the school Web site Thursday afternoon.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health determined the cause of illness based on five stool samples, all of which tested positive for the norovirus, the notice stated.

Test results from both the water and the food at the school were negative, the notice reports.

Because of these results, Armagh will serve the normal scheduled lunch beginning today, then notice added. While the test results were pending, the school served bagged lunches and bottled water.

"We will continue to follow all necessary health and cleanliness precautions at Armagh Elementary, including sanitizing tables, chairs, desks, toilets, door knobs, playground equipment, etc.," Principal Mike LaMarca said in the release. "I recommend that you also follow proper health and safety measures at home."

LaMarca previously said that there have been no new outbreaks reported at the school since the initial students became ill last week.

On Sept. 3, numerous parents contacted The Sentinel stating that they took their sick children to Lewistown Hospital for treatment. A press release issued by the hospital on Sept. 4 stated that the hospital's emergency department had been treating multiple school-aged children that exhibited symptoms of gastroenteritis with vomiting.

An informational sheet from the Center for Disease Control describes norovirus as a group of viruses that cause the stomach flu. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and some stomach cramping, according to the sheet. The illness usually lasts 1 to 2 days, the sheet continues.

According to the sheet, the virus typically does not have long-term health effects; however, those who are infected should make sure they do not become dehydrated.

Norovirus is very contagious and can spread rapidly throughout environments like schools, nursing homes and cruise ships, the sheet adds. People can be infected by touching contaminated surfaces or objects, having direct contact with another person who is infected, or eating food or drinking liquids that are contaminated, according to the sheet.

Usually, people infected with the norovirus are contagious from the moment they begin feeling ill until at least three days after they recover; however, some remain contagious for as long as two weeks after recover, according to the sheet.

Because there is no antiviral medication that works against norovirus and no vaccine to prevent the infection, prevention is important, according to the sheet.

Frequent hand washing, cleaning surfaces and objects, and washing clothing or linens that may be contaminated with the virus are ways to prevent the norovirus from spreading, according to the sheet.

To view the norovirus fact sheet, visit the school's Web site at www.mcsdk12.org/armagh or the Center for Disease Control at www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/submenus/sub_norwalk.htm.