Norwalk virus closes Burnaby daycare

Several suspected cases of Norwalk virus have forced the closure of a daycare in Burnaby.

The daycare, attached to Burnaby South Secondary School, closed early Thursday and remained closed Friday because eight children and five young moms developed symptoms of the gastrointestinal illness. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps.

Burnaby South Secondary School was not affected and was open on Friday.

The daycare cases follow viral outbreaks that affected 23 people on two wards of Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster and closed a Burnaby elementary school two days before the start of the winter break.

The Norwalk virus is easily spread from person to person by contacting the fecally contaminated hands of an ill person or a contaminated object and then touching your mouth. It can be prevented through proper hand washing.