Norovirus feared as dozens ill in Gore

Primary school rolls in the Gore district have been ravaged this week by a virus that public health officials fear could be the highly contagious norovirus.

Worst hit has been Longford Intermediate. It was forced to close yesterday because of a lack of staff and has had about a quarter of its pupils away throughout the week.

Principal Jo Turner said the school was assessing whether it would be able to field sports teams this weekend and there was some doubt whether classes would be able to resume on Monday. About 65 pupils have been struck by the virus and it had been a struggle to find cover for sick staff, she said.

Other schools badly affected were Gore Main, which had 47 children away at the start of the week, about a third of its roll, and Mataura school, where 31 pupils were absent.

Public Health South medical officers visited Gore on Thursday and an information sheet about norovirus has been sent to Longford Intermediate families.

Otago-Southland medical officer of health Marion Poore said samples were being sent for testing and it would next week before the virus could be identified. However, given the highly contagious nature and symptoms, there was certainly a "possibility it was norovirus".

There were a combination of symptoms – flu-like aches and pains, respiratory problems, high temperature, and vomiting and diarrhoea.

Ms Poore urged people to make sure they were free of symptoms for 48 hours before returning to school or work.

Mrs Turner said the virus hit on Monday.

It can strike very quickly.

"We've had children arrive at school at 8.45am happy and healthy and be very ill by 9.15am," she said.

Gore Main principal Mary Miller said staff had been extremely lucky.

Only one teacher had caught the virus, she said.

Other primary schools contacted yesterday reported higher than usual absenteeism, and principals were bracing themselves for the worst.

"It hasn't affected us yet – yet being the operative word," West Gore head Martin Box said.

Chickenpox was also taking its toll on pupils at East Gore Primary School. Principal Wes Gentle said of the 17 pupils away yesterday, half with chickenpox and half with the virus.

Gore Medical Centre partner Dr Glenys Weir said parents were now being struck down by the virus. It was important those affected drank lots of fluids, used paracetamol and kept cool by sponging and not over-dressing, she said.

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