Norovirus Outbreak Sickens Over 100 Students at Guangdong School in China: Symptoms Explained

More than 100 High school students have been confirmed sick in clusters due to the spread of norovirus in Foshan, Guangdong province, China. According to Xinhua News Agency, all are reported to be in stable

condition. Norovirus is a common pathogen that causes acute gastroenteritis, with primary symptoms including vomiting and diarrhoea. Initial reports from the Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention indicate that the province enters a seasonal peak for norovirus infections from October through March. Doctors say places like schools, especially kindergartens, are considered high-risk locations for the occurrence and transmission of such outbreaks due to a large group of children accumulated at one place.

Authorities taking swift action to contain the spread

Since the situation has been identified, local health and disease control authorities have activated an emergency response, according to Xinhua. Medical teams have been dispatched to the area to conduct epidemiological investigations, enhance professional disinfection guidance, and coordinate administrative measures. Authorities are also guiding the school to strengthen its health education initiatives, utilizing various channels to disseminate preventive knowledge and promote healthy living habits among students and staff. School has started a campus disinfection programme while maintaining daily health monitoring protocols like twice-a-day checks, apart from rigorous tracking of student absences due to illness.

What is norovirus?

Norovirus is a group of viruses that is highly contagious. According to experts, norovirus outbreaks happen seasonally in colder months. The first ever norovirus outbreak occurred in Norwalk, United States, in a school in 1968. For this reason, the first strain of norovirus was known as the Norwalk virus. Norovirus causes severe gastroenteritis, which many people call the “stomach flu”. It is very common globally, with about 685 million cases reported every year. Of that estimate, over 200 million cases affect children.

Signs and symptoms of norovirus

A few common symptoms of norovirus, apart from vomiting and diarrhoea, include:

• Stomach pain
• Severe headache
• High fever
• Body aches and muscle pain

Doctors say the symptoms usually appear 12 to 48 hours after exposure to the virus and last one to three days. Symptoms of norovirus are usually the same in both children and adults. Adults may experience more diarrhea than children, and children may vomit more than adults.

What causes norovirus?

A virus in the Caliciviridae family causes norovirus. This virus, when it enters your body, makes your stomach and intestines swell or become inflamed. This is a condition called gastroenteritis, which leads to symptoms of norovirus. According to doctors, you can get the norovirus infection in many ways, including through:

• Close contact with someone who is infected with the virus
• Touching contaminated surfaces and then touching your mouth or nose
• Eating or drinking contaminated foods or beverages