Several students sick with gastrointestinal illness at St. Margaret's Bay Elementary School

Provincial Public Health officials are looking into reports of students coming down with diarrhea, nausea and vomiting at St. Margaret's Bay Elementary northwest of Halifax.

It's unclear how many students are sick. In an emailed statement,Public Health spokesperson Jennifer Lewandowski said half of students did not attend school Friday afternoon, but the department is unsure how many absences were due to students being ill or not attending for other reasons.

Lewandowski said the illness is believed to benorovirus, which is highly contagious, but quickly resolves in one to three days.

As of Friday afternoon,Lewandowskisaid the department was unaware of any students or staff needing medical care or hospitalization.

Students at the school have been sent home with a letter to notify parents of the increase in stomach illnessesand to monitor children for symptoms,Lewandowski said.

She added thatif symptoms develop, kids should stay home until 48 hours after symptoms have cleared up.

Lewandowskisaid it's common to see increased gastrointestinal illness at this time of year"especially after Halloween" because of kids interacting and winter sports starting.

"The long weekend will hopefully break the chain of infection transmission," she wrote.

St. Margaret's Bay Elementaryis now working with Public Health to control the illness's spread.

Common symptoms

Common symptoms of norovirus include vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps, as well as a low-grade fever, chills, muscle aches and fatigue. Public Health said symptoms can begin suddenly.

A representative of the Halifax Regional Centre for Education was not immediately available for comment.