Health authorities on high alert over increasing norovirus fears

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Health authorities are warning people to take precautions against the norovirus, commonly referred to as the winter vomiting bug, as the number of cases this winter marked its highest level in the past five years.

Also called stomach flu, norovirus is a very contagious virus that causes vomiting and diarrhea.

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), Friday, 360 patients were reported during the second week of 2024 — between Jan. 7 and 13 — higher than the previous record of 353 reported cases during the third week of 2020.

The authorities urged parents and those operating nurseries or kindergartens to take extra care as patients aged 6 or younger accounted for 49.4 percent of the total.

Adding to concerns is the fact that two referees of the 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympics fell ill with the norovirus just before the event officially kicked off on Friday.

According to the organizing committee, six referees and other officials have displayed symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea after having a meal on Jan. 14 at a restaurant in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province, where the international event is taking place.

Of them, two tested positive for the virus two days later, the committee said, noting that the authorities are carrying out an epidemiological survey.

On Jan. 9, the Gangwon provincial government conducted norovirus testing on 705 workers at restaurants located within the athletes’ village as well as the International Olympic Committee's accommodations, as part of efforts to prevent infections. At the time, nine people tested positive and were quarantined.

“Based on our experiences responding to a norovirus outbreak during the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, we will make full preparations to operate the Youth Olympics without a hitch and protect athletes as well as spectators,” an official from the organizing committee said.

In 2018, 324 people, including volunteer workers, security personnel, police officers, reporters and other Games-related people, were confirmed to be affected by the bug before and during the Winter Olympics.

Amid increasing fears, the KDCA began taking preventive measures against the virus on Friday, moving up the date originally scheduled for Feb. 9.

Under the measures, the agency will run an emergency communication network with local health centers 24 hours a day and strengthen publicity activities to inform people of safety rules and encourage them to actively report any suspicious cases.

“It is advised to make a report to a nearby health center when more than two people have vomiting and diarrhea symptoms,” KDCA Commissioner Jee Young-mee said.