"In all, 33 schools have had absentee rates greater than 10 percent this week, ... Most absences were attributed to influenzalike illness, according to the health department.
...
In addition, widespread outbreaks of noroviruses (often referred to as stomach flu) are being reported in schools and nursing homes around the state, health officials said."
I was surprised that the article said that that the flu season appears no worse than normal. From what I have seen I wouldn't be surprised if this virus, whatever it is, spread to a large percentage of the population in a short time.
I always wonder how doctors and nurses avoid getting these things. Either they practice some sort of unusually rigorous sanitary practices, or they have just developed better immunity.
Isn't Norovirus the one that has caused so many cruise ship epidemics?