Sixty-nine people in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou have been treated for vomiting and diarrhea since Wednesday.
In a statement Thursday, Zhejiang University Hospital confirmed that the 69 people — including members of the university community — had shown symptoms of gastroenteritis, and that two were still being treated. The disease control center in Hangzhou’s Xihu District has ruled out the possibility of food poisoning and suspects that a norovirus was responsible, the statement said.
Noroviruses can be spread through contaminated food or water and are highly contagious. In March, 31 students at a vocational college in the eastern city of Fuzhou were diagnosed with norovirus infections after eating at their campus cafeteria. And in April, four fitness coaches in Shenzhen were infected with the virus after eating contaminated oysters. (Image: VCG)