In a concerning development from southern China’s Guangdong province, more than 100 students at a senior high school in Foshan city have tested positive for norovirus. Local health authorities confirmed the outbreak on Saturday, offering some reassurance that none of the affected students are in critical condition, and no fatalities have been reported.
The Shinghui Middle School, where the cases emerged, saw students fall ill recently with symptoms typical of acute gastroenteritis caused by this highly contagious virus. Initial tests pinpointed norovirus as the culprit behind the vomiting and diarrhea plaguing the group.
Health officials report that all 103 students are now stable. The school premises have undergone thorough disinfection, with ongoing monitoring of the students’ health and daily attendance checks. An epidemiological investigation is underway to trace the source and prevent further spread.
Norovirus outbreaks peak in Guangdong from October to March annually, according to the provincial disease control department. This virus family triggers rapid-onset stomach illness, spreading easily person-to-person, especially in colder months. In the US, it’s the leading cause of foodborne illness.
Globally, norovirus affects an estimated 685 million people yearly, including 200 million children under five. It claims around 200,000 lives annually, with 50,000 being young children, hitting poorer nations hardest. The economic toll, including healthcare costs, reaches $60 billion worldwide.
The virus gained its name from a 1968 outbreak in Norwalk, Ohio, USA, at a school—initially dubbed the Norwalk virus. Often mislabeled as ‘stomach flu,’ it differs from respiratory influenza. Seasonal patterns vary: northern hemisphere sees surges from November to April, southern from April to September, with equatorial regions experiencing year-round cases.
