Posted: November 4th, 2010 - 9:37pm by Doug Powell

A Toronto school had 250 students absent with flu-like symptoms earlier this week, believed to be norovirus-related. A school in Philipsburgh, PA, was closed today after 100 kids developed what was thought to be norovirus. And the tri-delts at the University of Michigan were barfing a couple of weeks ago because of, norovirus.

These stories all carry advice for students to wash their hands. But have any of these intrepid reporters gone to the school or sorority and checked out whether proper tools – running water, soap, paper towel – were available for proper handwashing? Too frequently, such tools are glaringly absent, especially in schools.