Health institute believes Norovirus is behind 50 sick students in Nijmegen

Public health service GGD believes a viral infection is the reason some 50 students fell sick during an orientation camp for the Hogeschool van Arnhem and Nijmegen on Friday, a spokesperson said in a special press conference. At this stage it is assumed they contracted the Norovirus, Omroep Gelderland reports. The first-year students were camping on sports grounds De Winkelsteegh in Nijmegen for orientation. A number fell sick on Thursday night and were more started vomiting and developed fever on Friday morning, the emergency services were called in. The GGD was also called in because it was unclear why the students were sick. The Norovirus is very contagious and causes inflammation of the intestines. It presents with vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, fever, headache and abdominal pain or cramps. The symptoms usually last two to three days. According to the GGD, the students are sick, but not so sick that they have to go to the hospital. The service is still running tests to make absolutely sure that it is the Norovirus that has them ill.