Stomach bug outbreak at San Jose schools also reported in Santa Cruz County

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- A 24-hour stomach bug outbreak that has sickened hundreds of students in the San Jose Unified School District schools may be spreading to other counties, according to the Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency.

There have been at least 28 cases reported by children and staff at a camp in the unincorporated Boulder Creek area, according to Santa Cruz County officials who said they are concerned about a more significant outbreak.

So far 368 students have fallen ill at 14 schools in San Jose since the outbreak began around May 4, school district officials said Thursday. Most of those students affected are already healthy and back in class since the duration of the illness is relatively brief.

RELATED: South Bay schools in scrub-down mode after possible norovirus outbreak

District officials estimated Wednesday that more than 200 students had been sickened by the outbreak, but say the growing number of cases is driven primarily by just four schools.

So far the outbreak in the San Jose Unified School District is only affecting students. No teachers or staff have reported catching the virus, according to the district.

To help combat the outbreak, cleaning crews have been sanitizing surfaces in common areas of the affected schools, like playgrounds, computer labs, classrooms and cafeterias.

School nurses have been educating the students on proper hand-washing habits, and a number of non-instructional school events have been canceled or postponed to limit the spread of the virus.

The symptoms include vomiting and diarrhea, which points to norovirus, according to the Santa Clara County Public Health Department, but that has not yet been confirmed by a laboratory.

Any parent with a student showing symptoms of the stomach bug is asked to keep their child home for a full 48 hours after they appear to be healthy again, since patients continue to shed the virus during that timeframe even after they feel better.

Here is a list of the schools affected:

John Muir Middle School

Hacienda Environmental Science Magnet School

Anne Darling Elementary

Horace Mann Elementary

Olinder Elementary

Washington Elementary

Grant Elementary

Terrell Elementary

Willow Glen Elementary

Carson Elementary

Norovirus prevention tips:

The Center for Disease Control says to prevent noroviruses you should wash your hands carefully and thoroughly with soap and water and always wash your hands before eating, preparing or handling food.

They also say you can use hand sanitizers but they should not be used as a substitute for hand washing.

Those who fear they have been in contact with a norovirus should clean and disinfect contaminated surfaces. Laundry should also be paid close attention to and washed thoroughly.

Click here for more tips on how to protect yourself and your family from noroviruses.