103 people at a middle school in Foshan, Guangdong Province, China, have collectively contracted norovirus, and a public incident emergency response plan has been initiated.
According to comprehensive reports from Xinhua News Agency and CCTV News, Foshan Huada Xinghui Senior High School in Guangdong stated that recently, some students at the school have experienced physical discomfort, and the public incident emergency response plan has been launched. After sampling and investigation by the CDC, it was preliminarily determined to be caused by norovirus infection. The school stated that campus disinfection has been carried out, and autumn and winter infectious disease prevention education is being conducted.
The report stated that as of 8 a.m. on the 17th, the school had a total of 103 norovirus infection cases, all of whom are in stable condition, with no critical or fatal cases. The health authorities are guiding the school to carry out disinfection and daily health monitoring of students.
According to a previous report by Shangguan News, parents at Foshan Sanshui District Huada Xinghui Senior High School said on Thursday that many students at the school exhibited symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea, and many visited the hospital for emergency treatment.
On the same day, Huada Xinghui Senior High School posted a prevention notice on its official WeChat account, stating: “Recently, students at Huada Xinghui Senior High School have shown physical discomfort, and the school quickly launched the public incident emergency response plan. After sampling and investigation by the CDC, it was preliminarily determined to be caused by norovirus infection.”
The school said that the affected students have been isolated and are receiving treatment, with symptoms generally mild and most already improving.
Norovirus, formerly known as Norwalk virus, belongs to the Caliciviridae family and is a common pathogen causing acute gastroenteritis. It typically manifests as vomiting and diarrhea, can occur throughout the year, and is most common during autumn and winter.
China CDC reminded last November that norovirus infection had entered its high incidence period.