Norovirus shuts down school

WEST NEWBURY, Mass. (WHDH) - Custodians worked around the clock decontaminating Pentucket Regional High school in West Newbury, Massachusetts after more than 140 students were dismissed early after complaining about a stomach illness Thursday.

"We heard about a lot of people throwing up and coming into classes saying they were feeling sick, a lot of people went home," said Chase Marcotte, a student.

The Massachusetts Department of Health said a large number of students at Pentucket Regional High School have the norovirus. About 20 percent of students at the high school presented symptoms of the gastrointestinal virus.

"We had a steady flow of students during the course of the day, so we were able to accommodate using the guidance suite, or the administrative suite to make sure that we had student areas available," said Jeff Mulqueen, superintendent.

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