An outbreak of Acte Diarrheal Disease, Presumably of Viral Origin, Among Children of a Local school

An epidemic of acute diarrheal disease which occurred among a groupe of school children in June, 1961, is reported. The school lunch was held responsoble, but bacteriolgical studies failed to demonstrate the causative agent. The disease was characteried by a sudden onset of diarrhea with minimal systemic symptoms, and the clinical picture closely resembled the previously described viral diarrhea. The incubation period was estimated to be several days. The course was short without sequelae. The importance of the recognition of this disease among otherwise unidentifable group poisonings in Japan is discussed.