A major outbreak of the winter vomiting bug has hit Älvboda friskola in Skutskär, near Gävle, with roughly one-third of the students, totaling 119, reported sick alongside ten staff members.

The school suspects the surge in sickness is due to the notorious winter vomiting disease, leading to widespread absences comparable to pandemic levels.

School authorities are advising anyone showing symptoms to stay home and require them to be symptom-free for 48 hours before returning, a restriction that may extend to 72 hours if the outbreak is not contained.

This situation has prompted an immediate response from the school to prevent further spread of the illness.