A BUG which closed two Huddersfield schools yesterday is thought to be the norovirus or ‘winter vomiting disease’.
Reinwood Junior School and Reinwood Infant and Nursery in Oakes both shut as children were struck down.
It is thought as many as a quarter of the 700 pupils were affected.
The schools were advised to undergo a “deep clean” and were expected to re-open on Monday.
The bug is common at this time of year and spreads rapidly, but Kirklees Council said no other schools had reported symptoms.
Dr Ebere Okereke, consultant in communicable disease control at West Yorkshire Health Protection Unit, said pupils at Reinwood were suffering from symptoms suggestive of viral gastroenteritis.
He said enhanced infection control measures and thorough deep cleaning had been advised.
He added: “The cause of this illness is not currently confirmed, however symptoms of those affected indicate that the likely cause is norovirus, commonly known as the ‘winter vomiting disease’.
“Although the infection can be very unpleasant, it’s generally short-lived and most people make a full recovery within one to two days.
“Norovirus is highly infectious and easily transmitted from one person to another and so spreads very easily in semi-closed environments such as schools.
“Unfortunately there is no specific treatment for the virus, apart from letting the illness run its course and so, in the vast majority of cases, there is no additional benefit to visiting a GP or A&E department.
“The most important advice is that anyone with symptoms of vomiting and diarrhoea should stay away from school or work until 48 hours after symptoms have ceased in order to prevent further spread.”
