Officials try to ID outbreak at Washoe County schools

RENO - Washoe County health officials are trying to identify an illness that's sickened hundreds of elementary school students and sent 11 children to emergency rooms in a single day.

Health officials had speculated that norovirus was the cause of the gastrointestinal illness, but said Friday that tests are inconclusive about whether that's the only cause. They say they've requested lab testing help from The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Test results are expected by the end of next week.

Dr. Joseph Iser of the health district said he's been working closely with the school district to ensure sick children stay out of class and to promote hygiene.

School officials contacted parents districtwide Oct. 12, when three elementary schools were seeing infection rates of 20 percent.