Three chidren were taken to hospital after they contracted norovirus – the outbreak occurred at the Compton All Saints Church of England Primary School in Hampshire
Three children at a school in Hampshire have been treated in hospital following an outbreak of norovirus. A total of seven children in a class at Compton All Saints Church of England Primary School, near Winchester, are confirmed to have contracted the virus.
The highly contagious illness is a nasty bug that causes vomiting and diarrhoea. Three of the pupils had to be admitted to hospital, Hampshire County Council said. All of the children were off school on Thursday and the school underwent a partial closure on Friday so a deep clean could take place. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) advised the class should be isolated from the rest of the school, Compton All Saints said.
This, the school said, was “logistically impossible” and a decision was taken to close the class. The UKHSA has said specialists are working with Hampshire County Council and the school.
Norovirus, also known as the “winter vomiting bug”, can cause unpleasant symptoms but generally gets better after around two days, the NHS says. Generally, symptoms include feeling and being sick and diarrhoea. People may also experience body aches and pains, a high temperature, headaches and tummy pain.
Despite its name, the winter vomiting bug can hit at any time of year. “The most important thing is to have lots of fluids to avoid dehydration,” the NHS says.
The NHS also says people with the virus should rest at home For people breastfeeding, the NHS advises: “Carry on breast or bottle feeding your baby – if they’re being sick, try giving small feeds more often than usual.”
It adds: “Give babies on formula or solid foods small sips of water between feeds.” Be sure to use formula at its normal strength.
To ease discomfort, paracetamol should help. Avoiding eating fatty or spicy foods should help too. The NHS advises that people should not have fruit juice or fizzy drinks if they have norovirus. This can make diarrhoea worse.
Children under 12 should not be given medicine to stop diarrhoea. Children under 16 should not be given aspirin.
The full list of symptoms on the NHS website is as follows: “Feeling sick, being sick (vomiting), diarrhoea, a high temperature, a headache, tummy pain, body aches and pains.”