Over 20 students infected with norovirus in Guangdong

More than 20 primary school students in south China's Guangdong province have tested positive for norovirus, a common cause of viral gastroenteritis, local authorities said Sunday.

Eleven students from a primary school in Longchuan County have been hospitalized and they are all in a stable condition, according to the county government's information office.

The outbreak began on Tuesday morning, when 52 students complained of symptoms like abdominal pain, diarrhea and vomiting.

Doctors said norovirus could easily spread in densely-populated areas and was transmitted through the digestive and respiratory systems. In general, the infection takes three to five days to clear.

Local heath authorities have ruled out the possibility of food poisoning being the cause and police say there is nothing to indicate intentional poisoning.

The school has been thoroughly disinfected, and the pupils and teachers will have to attend compulsory health and safety sessions.