Thursday January 7, 2016, an epidemic of gastroenteritis is triggered simultaneously in two schools in La Chaize-le-Vicomte, a small village in Vendée (85) with a little less than 4,000 inhabitants. 350 primary school children (attached to Saint-Joseph and Pierre Perret schools) are affected: “Thursday morning, we noticed that nearly 70% of the school population was absent,” explains the mayor, Yannick David. The children complained of headaches and nausea. “
As a reminder, the symptoms of gastroenteritis (also called stomach flu) are vomiting, of the diarrhea, loose, watery stools, sometimes with a low fever, muscle pain (body aches and cramps), and headache. In young children, the appearance of these symptoms warrants a medical consultation. For adults, it is important to consult a general practitioner if symptoms persist for more than 48 hours.
Eradicate a norovirus
The mayor of La Chaize-le-Vicomte immediately alerts the Regional Health Agency (ARS) of Pays de la Loire. After analysis, this concludes with a fulgurating gastroenteritis: violent but of limited duration, 24 hours maximum. This Friday, January 8, 2016, the 517 students therefore remained confined to their homes, while the two schools suffered a professional disinfection in order to eradicate the norovirus, responsible for the epidemic.
“We have also closed the school restaurant, the sports hall and the leisure center,” adds the mayor, who also launched a municipal safeguard plan (PCS). The situation should return to normal at the start of the week: Monday morning, the children are invited to come back to class!
