Wenzhou, Zhejiang — In the third week of April, a Norovirus outbreak hit Wenzhou-Kean University, infecting over 50 students, according to the university health service center.

On April 18, several Wenzhou Kean University students posted a message on their WeChat Moments, indicating that they had experienced nausea, vomiting and diarrhea in the past two days, and suspected food hygiene problems in the No.2 Dining Hall. Within less than an hour, more and more students posted or commented on WeChat, saying they were experiencing similar symptoms. Most students stated that they had eaten grilled fish on the second floor of No.2 Dining Hall in the past two days.

“After receiving feedbacks from the class representatives of the Student Union and some students, we called an emergency meeting with the university leadership and medical staff that night and tested some students’ samples. The sample testing results were positive of the Norovirus.” Eric Yang, the Acting Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, said.

“We invited professionals from the Wenzhou Center for Disease Control the next morning. No Norovirus was found from the environmental samples (including utensils) and food/water resources collected from two dining halls.” Eric Yang added.

Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that causes vomiting, diarrhoea or even dehydration. Norovirus is characterized by short incubation period, rapid mutation, strong environmental resistance, diverse transmission routes and low dose of infection, so it is easy to be transmitted among people.

Since April 20, the university health service center has started to consult one by one with students who have recently developed symptoms suspected Norovirus. All students who show symptoms of nausea, vomiting, fever and body ache would be isolated till three days after the symptoms disappear.

“The incubation period is about 12-48 hours after being infected by Norovirus, and the symptoms last for 1-3 days. So, in order to prevent the Norovirus from spreading again, it is necessary to isolate and monitor students with existing symptoms.” Ms. Zhang, the director of the university Health Service Center, explained.

Due to the new quarantine policy, many students were unable to attend classes or take exams. Therefore, Eric Yang, the Acting Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, sent an email to all professors to explain the situation and asked them to give special help to these students.

“I was supposed to give a presentation in my COMM course this Friday morning. Since now I’m in isolation, the professor has approved me to do it next week. But I still feel a little bit dissatisfied that my original plan has been disrupted.” Said Iris Yu, a fourth-year accounting major student.

At the time of this news, the university has not released the specific cause of the Norovirus infection. But all of the infected students have recovered.