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Norovirus Suspected Among Benzie County Students

HONOR (AP) - Officials say dozens of elementary school students in Michigan's northern Lower Peninsula are staying home after being sickened by a suspected norovirus.

The Traverse City Record-Eagle reports about 80 students at Platte River Elementary missed school Thursday after more than 100 stayed home or left early due to illness Wednesday. The school is located about 20 miles southwest of Traverse City.

Health officials suspect a norovirus. Phil Cook, principal of the Benzie County school, said the sickness appears to be hitting kindergarten through fifth grades the hardest. The school has about 310 students. The sixth graders are in a different wing.

Norovirus is part of a family of viruses that are spread person-to-person and cause flu-like symptoms including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramping.

(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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