More than 100 students at Binzhou vocational college in East China’s Shandong Province have been diagnosed with norovirus after suffering from vomiting and diarrhea, according to an official statement released by local authorities on Friday.
The incident began on Tuesday, when students at the college began reporting symptoms of nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The school promptly arranged for medical treatment and notified local disease control authorities, who immediately conducted on-site epidemiological investigations and collected samples for testing.
Laboratory results confirmed the presence of norovirus in stool and anal swab samples from affected students. As of Friday, a total of 413 medical consultations have been recorded, with 17 students hospitalized. All reported cases are classified as mild, authorities said.
Following the outbreak, the Binzhou city government established a joint task force consisting of officials from the education, health, and market supervision departments, as well as representatives from Bincheng district. Experts from both provincial and municipal levels have been dispatched to the site to guide treatment and trace the source of infection.
Preventive measures, including enhanced health monitoring, targeted disinfection of key areas, and public health education, are currently being carried out at Binzhou vocational college in an orderly manner.
Authorities have urged students and staff to maintain good hygiene practices and report any new symptoms promptly to prevent further spread of the virus.
