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 The predominant symptom was vomiting. As all ill children were in 1st or 2nd grade classes, school officials were concerned about the possibility of a gas leak or other environmental exposure and had requested that local fire officials inspect the building. As busloads of vomiting first and second graders were hardly a routine event this clearly represents an outbreak of some type.
    Normal attendance during the week and sharp peak of onset times suggested a common source outbreak rather than person-to-person transmission with exposure taking place on the 21st. We began confirmation of this by asking school to contact parents of children who were absent that day and determining if absence was due to a similar illness. Explosive onset suggested intoxication of some sort. Cluster of cases in 2 classes supported an environmental rather than foodborne source.

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