A total of 103 students at a senior high school in Foshan, Guangdong Province, China, have contracted norovirus, a common pathogen causing acute gastroenteritis. Symptoms include vomiting and diarrhea. The infected students from Xinghui Middle School are currently in stable condition after displaying symptoms linked to norovirus.
The school has undergone disinfection measures, and students are being closely monitored for health while attendance checks are in place. Additionally, an epidemiological survey is being conducted. Guangdong provincial disease control authorities have highlighted that the province experiences its annual norovirus epidemic season from October to March of the following year, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
Norovirus, a highly contagious group of viruses, is a leading cause of severe vomiting and diarrhea. It is responsible for a significant number of foodborne illnesses in the United States. Annually, an estimated 685 million cases of norovirus are reported, with a substantial impact on children under 5 years old. The global burden of norovirus includes approximately 200,000 deaths per year, with a notable economic cost of $60 billion due to healthcare expenses and economic losses.
The first known norovirus outbreak occurred in Norwalk, Ohio, USA, in a school back in 1968, leading to the identification of the initial strain as the Norwalk virus. Norovirus primarily causes gastroenteritis, often referred to as the “stomach flu,” distinguishing it from the respiratory flu caused by the influenza virus. Outbreaks of norovirus typically peak between November and April in countries located above the equator, and between April and September in countries below the equator, with no specific season for outbreaks near the equator.
