Over 100 pupils at an Angus primary school have been struck down by a suspected outbreak of the winter vomiting bug.
It is understood that 10 teaching staff have also been affected at Langlands Primary in Forfar’s Glamis Road.
Parents and carers have been told to keep their sick children at home until they are clear of the virus for 48 hours.
The school remains open today but the afternoon pre-school class has been cancelled as a precaution.
It is understood the virus may have taken a grip during the school’s first Christmas concert last night.
A council spokeswoman today confirmed a suspected norovirus infection at Langlands Primary School.
She said: “Parents and carers are advised to keep unwell children at home until they are clear of the virus for 48 hours.
“We understand 106 young people and 10 teaching staff have been affected.For more on this story, see Thursday’s Courier or try our digital edition“The school remains open and senior staff will be teaching affected classes.
“As a precaution the afternoon pre-school class has been cancelled and parents have been notified.
“The school is working with the local environmental health service to investigate the cause of this illness.
“We have arranged for additional cleaning to be carried out to reduce the risk of any further infection.”
Norovirus, also known as the winter vomiting bug, is the most common stomach bug in the UK.
The first sign of norovirus tends to be a sudden feeling of sickness, followed by forceful vomiting and watery diarrhoea.
Other symptoms include a raised temperature, headaches, stomach cramps and aching arms and legs.
In public places and environments such as schools, hospitals and nursing homes it spreads quickly because the virus can survive for several days.
One parent said: “The first of the school concerts was last night and it seems that a lot of the kids are off today with this bug.
“I heard that it could involve as many as 70 or 80 youngsters across the nursery and the primary school, which is a lot of children.
“I think it may have started yesterday, but it looks like it’s going through the school and with the concert last night a lot of kids might come down with it.
“There wasn’t much information coming out of the school today when we arrived to drop our children off, but there was a lot of talk about how many kids had got it.”
There is no treatment for norovirus, but most people will recover within a few days.
Norovirus, also known as the winter vomiting bug, is the most common stomach bug in the UK.
The first sign of norovirus tends to be a sudden feeling of sickness, followed by forceful vomiting and watery diarrhoea.
Other symptoms include a raised temperature, headaches, stomach cramps and aching arms and legs.
In public places and environments such as schools, hospitals and nursing homes it spreads quickly because the virus can survive for several days.