comment: >
  
  Turkey time...
context: Enteric diseases epidemiologist here. I investigate GI outbreaks for a state government. Folks that have said this sounds like norovirus are exactly right. 
  Noro is the most common cause of acute gastroenteritis outbreaks by far, particularly in congregate settings like schools, long-term care facilities, prisons, etc. It is wonderfully “designed” to spread like wildfire: the infectious dose is insanely low, it’s found in the feces AND vomit of the infected, it’s not killed by hand sanitizer, it can live for a while on surfaces, and many disinfectants won’t kill it. About a hundred years ago (before the virus was discovered) it was called “winter vomiting syndrome” because cases and outbreaks increase markedly in the winter months and, you know, puking is involved. The timing and length of this annual peak differ a bit each year, but most cases and outbreaks occur between Novemberish and Marchish - aka norovirus season. In my state, our norovirus season has really picked up in the last two weeks.
  If this were my investigation I’d assume norovirus unless A) the kids’ illnesses lasted say 4 to 6+ days instead of noro’s typical 1 or 2 days, B) a significant number of kids reported bloody diarrhea rather or other severe symptoms, or, C) there were some other compelling reason- for example, if the school was serving raw milk.
  Your typical layperson wants to blame the shits on the last thing they ate, but it’s almost never the last thing they ate. Most common GI pathogens take at least several hours to make people sick. Noro usually takes about 24 hours.
  The article doesn’t have enough info for me to say what mode of transmission is likely. If most of these kids were sick on the same one/two days, foodborne would be likely. If cases were scattered over a few/several days, person-to-person or environmental transmission would be more likely. If it is foodborne then most likely someone in the kitchen worked while they were having diarrhea or within a couple days of recovering from diarrhea.
  Not mentioned in this article: it’d be super easy to test a couple of stool samples and find out the cause. It would take less than a day! The health department is probably working on it, but parents never want to give poops for school outbreaks. No idea why. >
  
  In another article, it says that all 130 kids were vomiting simultaneously. Would that imply that it was environmental and not a virus? As in something airborne like an insecticide being sprayed incorrectly or a chemical leak?
  
  According to 8 News Now, all 130 students were lined up outside the Wayne N. Tanaka Elementary School health office on Jan. 27 as they experienced a wave of "projectile vomiting." >
  
  That sounds like mass psychogenic illness. >
  
  Or people being grossed out as well >
  
  It goes deeper than that. >
  
  That's what she said.
  No, I mean some people are so grossed out by puke they puke themselves when they see someone doing it.
  A psychosis would be people just internalizing people are sick and they got it too. Like that House episode, but that wouldn't necessarily be because they are grossed out >
  
  Sounds like norovirus.  Scourge of cruise ships everywhere.   Highly contagious.  For this high a body count at once, it's got to be a cafeteria worker who didn't wash their hands. >
  
  Why don't people wash their hands? Why? >
  
  You’d think the last couple of years would have made at least some form of an impression… >
  
  It’s like the people who believe we should keep getting sick to boost our immune system, and it’s like no I just keep getting sick! >
  
  Don’t get me wrong, I like time off work as much as the next bloke, but not when I’m sick, especially in bloody summer, for reference I’m in West Oz, we had 39°C today here in Perth, mate of mine is currently dealing with a chest infection and is not having a good time… >
  
  I hate that people think by being sick a lot I’m getting so much time off work, one I’m lucky to even get sick pay, and two I am not having fun! I am bedbound, struggling to look after myself and my home, and when I’m back to work I’ve got loads of work to catch up on, like it’s never fun and I’d rather not get sick!
  Edit: spelling mistakes! >
  
  Poor janitor >
  
  Season 3 of American Vandal incoming? >
  
  Exactly what I thought but it’s too similar to the last one I think (was it any good? It’s a great idea, that show, but the actual implementation is like… smiles at best, no laughs…for me anyway) >
  
  This happened at summer camp 40 odd years ago, turned out the well was contaminated. >
  
  Someone poisoned the waterhole! >
  
  The watering hole? Whats so great about the watering hole? >
  
  I’ll SHOW you when we GET there. >
  
  An elephant what!? >
  
  How are we gonna ditch the dodo? >
  
  American Vandal Season 3 >
  
  We back, boys. Lets gooo >
  
  All things considered, vomit is probably the best projectile to be in the headline relating to a US school. >
  
  Underrated comment >
  
  Sounds like someone didn't wear gloves while making lunch. Gave them the Norovirus. >
  
  I’ve had Norovirus twice, it was brutal. Wouldn’t wish it on anyone >
  
  And it spreads so fast. >
  
  Exactly, and it’s one of the few things that’s very difficult to get rid of by just washing your hands with soap and water. 
  I remember when I was in college, the school sent out an email that a few people who worked in the cafeteria kitchen had gotten it (this was after I had already had it twice), and I think I avoided the cafeteria for about two weeks. No way I was letting myself get it a third time >
  
  The school was putting on a play.  It's called "The Aristocrats." >
  
  While a gastrointestinal virus may be one possibility - FOX news viewers will want to consider the possibility of mass demonic possession taking place in sin city and interpret it as an omen of the end times. >
  
  Either that or it's because of drag queens and transgender folks. Time to ban all books in school. >
  
  Which letters in the alphabet are evil? >
  
  Mostly vowels and the letter N
  /s >
  
  I think we’d get by just fine without ‘x’ >
  
  This is exactly the point. >
  
  Eggsactly. >
  
  Did someone get Boebert to cater something? >
  
  Underrated (voted) comment! >
  
  Maybe they watched Gigli