200 Feng Chia students sick; virus suspected to be culprit

The PBH said that the culprit may be Norovirus, a virus that causes Gastroenteritis, also known as gastric flu.

Gastric flu patients suffer from inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, causing diarrhea. The virus may be spread through human contact.

The PBH said that its test results indicate that there is no problem with the food and water sold by the numerous food stands near Feng Chia.

Earlier tests also showed that there were no problems with Feng Chia's water supply.

Deng Juin-lin, director general of the PBH, said the transmission of the disease may be due to students' poor hygiene. He called on students to wash their hands frequently, and to improve their hygiene standards.

This incident comes shortly after neighboring Tunghai University received threats that its water supply would be poisoned. The culprit has been detained by the police.

A Feng Chia student said that he started vomiting and suffering from diarrhea as early as the end of March. Similar symptoms are now seen in approximately 200 of his fellow students.

Another Feng Chia student conceded that he does not wash his hands often.

No one outside the school has fallen sick so far. The PBH's investigations into the cause of the sickness are continuing.

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