Norovirus outbreak at Exeter schools sees 60 pupils sent home with vomiting bug
MORE than 60 students and staff have been sent home from two Exeter schools after a Norovirus outbreak.
Parents claimed ill students were even forced to carry sick buckets, vomiting as they left Westclyst and Broadclyst Primary Schools in Devon.
Public Health England has been called in to help manage the outbreak, confirming 60 students and staff were affected by the bug.
One parent told The Mirror it was like "something from a horror film" as the highly contagious outbreak spread.
Speaking to the Sun Online, Broadclyst Community Primary School headteacher Jonathan Bishop confirmed about 45 out of about 500 children were off yesterday after falling ill with Norovirus, while about five Westclyst students out of 105 were off.
He said: "We are having extra deep cleans during the day and at the end of the day, which includes things like cleaning door handles.
"The school nurse is also going into classes telling children about the importance of handwashing."
He said a parents' information night scheduled for Wednesday was also cancelled to manage the outbreak.
The schools, while separate, sit on the same site.
Mr Bishop said: "It has been very fast-paced, it came on yesterday morning and by the end of the day we had 45 children off sick.
THE VOMITING BUG: Signs and symptoms of norovirus
Norovirus is one of the most common stomach bugs in the UK and is also referred to as “the winter vomiting bug”, although it can affect people all year round.
According to the NHS website, you are likely to have caught norovirus if you experience a sudden sick feeling, projectile vomiting and watery diarrhoea.
Other symptoms can include a slight fever, headaches, painful cramps and aching limbs.
Luckily, the symptoms generally only last for about two to three days.
If you think you have contracted it contact NHS direct but stay at home, as you won’t be offered any treatment at hospital and you could put others at risk by being there.
You can ease the symptoms by doing a few things:
- Drink plenty of fluids and avoid getting dehydrated
- Take paracetamol to ease aches and pains
- Rest – a lot
- Eat plain foods (if you can manage eating)
- Rehydrate with rehydration salts which you can buy in a sachet
- Adults can take antidiarrhoeal tablets
"We are following all the right steps."
He said there were no plans to close the school.
Nick Young, Consultant in Health Protection for Public Health England South West, said: "We are currently working with the schools to reduce the risk of ongoing infection from likely norovirus infection.”
"Norovirus infection leads to diarrhoea, vomiting and abdominal or stomach cramps that people tend to recover from quickly. If affected, it is important to drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.
"To reduce the risk to others, stay off nursery, school or work, avoid preparing food and minimise direct contact with others until 48 hours after your symptoms have stopped."
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Mr Young said outbreaks could be difficult to control as it could be easily transmitted.
He said: "The most effective way to respond to an outbreak is to clean and disinfect contaminated areas very thoroughly and to institute good hygiene measures including hand-washing.
"The school have taken these measures and issued advice to children, parents and staff.”