A school was plunged into a major code brown after a mystery stomach bug swept through, leaving hundreds of students and dozens of parents rushing to the toilets
A school descended into brown chaos after a mystery stomach bug swept through, leaving hundreds of students and even their parents racing for the loo. With emergency evacuations, hospital visits, and water fountains under suspicion, the affected community has plunged into a stinky situation.
A small town in the south of France was thrown into a major code brown after a nasty outbreak of gastroenteritis swept through a local secondary school. Consequently, hundreds of children and even their parents fell ill, forcing an emergency evacuation.
The drama unfolded at the Jules-Verne College in Le Soler, near Perpignan, where around 400 pupils were hit by the stomach bug over Friday (December 5) and the weekend, with dozens of parents now also falling sick, the town’s mayor told AFP.
“It all started on Friday morning,” explained Mayor Armelle Revel-Fourcade. “10 pupils suddenly came down with vomiting, headaches, and stomach pains.”
He continued: “Naturally, we started to get a bit worried.” The cases were swiftly reported to the regional health agency (ARS), Swiss media outlet 20 Minutes reported.
By Friday afternoon, things had reportedly gone from bad to worse. The mayor explained: “The headteacher decided to evacuate the school, and the ARS came in to take water samples.
“By Friday evening, about 50 children had ended up in A&E as the situation deteriorated, and we had roughly 200 pupils unwell.” On Saturday (December 6), 13 students were hospitalised for rehydration, but by Monday (December 7), all had been discharged.
However, the bug wasn’t over just yet. “Since Sunday, parents of sick children have started coming down with the same symptoms,” the mayor said.
He added: “This morning, we’ve had loads of parents calling in to say they’re ill too.” Health officials have said that initial tests on water samples from the school and surrounding area have come back clear, with no sign of contamination.
Still, the mayor has reportedly called for further checks on the canteen’s water fountains, just in case. The school reopened its doors on Monday morning after a thorough 6am deep clean.
A crisis meeting was held on site, bringing together health authorities, police, and food safety officials. Investigations are ongoing, with further tests to be carried out on meals served at the school last Thursday and Friday, according to the mayor.
What is Gastroenteritis ?
More commonly known as the “stomach flu”, it is a common inflammation of the stomach and intestines, usually caused by viruses (like norovirus) or bacteria (food poisoning), leading to sudden diarrhea, vomiting, cramps, and fever, with most mild cases clearing up in a few days with rest and fluids to prevent dehydration. It spreads easily through contaminated food, water, or person-to-person contact, and treatment focuses on rehydration, though severe cases may need medical attention.
Symptoms
- Watery diarrhea
- Nausea and vomiting
- Abdominal pain or cramps
- Fever, headaches, and general malaise
Treatment
- Rehydration: Drink plenty of clear fluids and electrolyte solutions (like oral rehydration salts or diluted sports drinks).
- Rest: Allow your body to recover.
- Diet: Gradually reintroduce bland foods (like crackers, bananas, rice).
- Hygiene: Wash hands thoroughly, stay home for 48 hours after symptoms stop to prevent spread.
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