Hand hygiene stressed as norovirus hits

The number of cases of norovirus infection, known to cause severe vomiting and diarrhea, has risen sharply among children in the past few weeks, with several schools reporting clusters and health experts stressing the significance of maintaining hand hygiene to contain the disease transmission.

A school covering grades 1 to 12 in Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, said in a notice released on Sunday that it was hit by a norovirus outbreak, following confirmation from disease control officials.

The school suspended classes that have infected children, though their cases are mild and they are in stable condition. The school did not reveal the number of infections.