North Olympic Peninsula cheerleaders escaped an intestinally virus that sickened more than 200 cheerleaders and their supporters at the state cheerleading championships — because they didn’t attend.
Principals and superintendents of Peninsula public school districts said in emails that cheer squads from their schools had passed on participating in the Feb. 4 competition in Everett.
School districts
The school districts are Port Angeles, Sequim, Port Townsend, Chimacum, Quilcene, Cape Flattery in Neah Bay and Clallam Bay, Crescent in Joyce and Quillayute Valley in Forks.
“They chose whether they will attend the meet,” Port Angeles School District spokeswoman Tina Smith-O’Hara said Thursday.
Some 1,200 cheerleaders from 45 schools and 1,800 coaches, parents and supporters attended the Salute to Spirit and State Cheerleading Championships at Comcast Arena in Everett, during which members of at least 19 squads became ill.
The state Department of Health said a fast-acting intestinal virus known as “norovirus” was responsible for the outbreak.
“Norovirus is typically transmitted person-to-person,” Health spokesman Donn Moyer said in a statement Thursday.
As of Friday, 229 people had reported vomiting and diarrhea during the event or in the days after.
At least 33 have reported seeking medical care, though none was hospitalized.
Expected to grow
The numbers are expected to grow as state health officials receive answers from surveys that were sent to participants and families, Moyer said.
The Department of Health is leading the disease investigation, working with local health departments and the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association, sponsor of the event in Everett.
People who attended the event and who have severe symptoms are advised to contact a health care provider.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.