Over 100 pupils affected at Southfield Primary
Southfield Primary School had to be closed for a day after an outbreak of a winter virus called Norovirus. The virus, otherwise known as winter vomiting disease, affected more than 100 pupils throughout the school.
Southfield Primary School head teacher Charles Morris said "Around 100 pupils were affected by the virus and the school worked closely with the Health Protection Agency to provide the most up to date advice to parents and take the necessary steps to eradicate it from the school.
"Although the symptoms, including vomiting, were very unpleasant, they were not life-threatening. The school was closed on Friday to allow for the thorough disinfecting of classrooms and other parts of the school to stop the virus from spreading. The school opened as normal on Monday and the Health Protection Agency has since praised our thorough and efficient handling of the situation."
In this case the virus was spread via contact with an infected person, not by the consumption of contaminated food or water.
The matter was investigated by the North West London Health Protection Unit and the following information has been provided by the Health Protection Agency.
Outbreaks of norovirus are more common during the winter months and usually tend to affect people in semi-closed environments where large numbers of people congregate for periods of several days (for example, hospitals, residential and nursing homes and schools).
Norovirus infection, sometimes more commonly called the ‘winter vomiting disease’, is the most common cause of infectious gastroenteritis and affects approximately 600,000 to 1 million people in the UK each year. Symptoms include:
• Nausea (feeling sick)
• Sudden onset of vomiting (often sudden and projectile)
• Diarrhoea
• Stomach pains/cramps
• Fever
Norovirus can be very unpleasant, but it is rarely serious. Most people make a full recovery within one or two days. It is important that people with diarrhoea and vomiting drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration and let the illness run its course.
The virus is easily spread from one person to another. It can be caught by contact with an infected person, by consuming contaminated food or water, or by contact with contaminated surfaces or objects. In this case, the virus was spread via contact with an infected person, not by the consumption of contaminated food or water.
People remain infectious for up to 48 hours after the symptoms have finished.
Letters providing advice and information were sent to parents and staff. Ealing Council’s schools health and safety officer visited the school and liaised with staff and the North West London Health Protection Unit.
November 16, 2006
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