Mcgrath, Anderson elementary schools closed Friday due to stomac - ABC 12 – WJRT – Flint, MI

(11/29/12) - More than 80 kids are sick with the stomach flu in Grand Blanc Township, forcing two elementary schools to close.    

McGrath and Anderson Elementary will be closed Friday. Thursday, some parents were taking extra steps to keep their kids healthy.

"That's the thing, if one gets it goes through the household," said Brett Anderson, a Grand Blanc parent with kids at the high school and middle school.

With a nasty stomach bug circulating in the area, he's making sure his kids are staying safe.

"For one I'm trying to make sure they stay bundled up when heading out and just making sure they use a lot of antibacterial and stuff like that," he said.

At least 80 elementary students are sick with what the health department believes is the norovirus, or the stomach flu.

Grand Blanc's superintendent says it's most likely an airborne virus, and they're hiring a special cleaning crew to come in and sanitize.

"The norovirus is one of the most contagious diseases there is," said Mark Valacak, Health Officer at the Genesee County Health Department.

The health department says there's an up tick in the number of people with the disease.

"You want to rest, stay at home and make sure you drink plenty of fluids," Valacak said.

And flu shots don't protect you against the norovirus; they help shield you from the influenza virus, a respiratory illness.

There's only one thing you can do to prevent the stomach flu.

"Wash you hands with soap and water for a period of time," Valacak said.

If you do have the stomach flu, the health department says it should only last one or two days.