GAYLORD, Minn. - The wave of illness that has swept through schools in Gaylord continues to take a toll.
Sibley East Principal Mari Lu Martens tells KARE 11 that 211 students and staff members called in sick Thursday. The numbers break down to 128 sickouts at the community's elementary school, and 83 at the junior high.
The Minnesota Department of Health was called in Wednesday after 178 students and staff called in sick with a stomach illness, characterized by vomiting and diarrhea.
Martens says most of the staff that were out Wednesday were able to return Thursday. During a teleconference with the Department of Health she learned that investigators are still waiting for sample results, but symptoms would indicate that the culprit is Norovirus.
Both schools were completely wiped down last night in hopes of stopping the outbreak. So far, investigators have not narrowed down the source of the illness.
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