More than 200 kids absent as stomach bug hits Queens school

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NEW YORK (AP) — The stomach bug known as norovirus has sickened scores of children at one New York City elementary school.

The city Department of Education says 130 students were absent from Public School 12 in Queens on Wednesday and 210 Thursday. The school has about 1,275 students and attendance averages 96 percent.

A Department of Education spokeswoman says P.S.12 parents have been notified of the outbreak and the school is being thoroughly disinfected.

The city Department of Health referred questions to the Department of Education.

Norovirus is a common stomach virus characterized by nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. Most infected people recover within two to three days.