A suspected outbreak of norovirus sent 45 members of a visiting contingent of Japanese students to the Whitehorse General Hospital emergency room last Thursday evening and Friday morning.

Bryce Larke, the territory's medical health officer, said today while he can't be certain, the symptoms displayed have all the signs of a norovirus.

If there is anything good about that particular virus, it's how quickly it ends, usually between 12 and 72 hours, he said in an interview.

From the contingent of 96 16- and 17-year-old students and six chaperones, 45 went to the hospital, Akemi Matsumiya, the local tour operator who organized their Whitehorse visit, said this morning.

'Probably about half were really sick and half of them were sick but not that bad,' she said. 'Some of them received a Gravol pill, so that was just a precaution thing.'

Matsumiya said some of the students were feeling better the very next day.

'So they are doing fine.'

There were two, however, who had to return for a second visit to the emergency room, she said.

Larke said it's impossible to determine where the virus originated. So common is the norovirus at this time of year that it could have come from anywhere, he said.

He said it's highly contagious and is the same virus that's known to hit cruise ship passengers.

It used to be known as the winter vomiting flu, the medical officer pointed out.

Hospital spokesman Mike Pare said this morning it's his understanding that about one of every six received fluid intravenously to curb dehydration that can be brought on by vomiting and diarrhea.

'But mostly it was stuff to make them feel a little better,' he said.

Pare said one of the group's chaperones provided the necessary translation, which was not complicated because the symptoms were generally the same for everyone.

And there was no need to call in additional staff.

'I think the staff did exceptionally well with it,' said the intensive care nurse. 'They ran all night but it was controlled.'

Larke said samples of vomiting or feces were not provided and without them he's not able to say it was indeed the norovirus.

'But it has all the characteristics of the norovirus.'

Larke said Alberta officials have checked the Banff ski resort where the contingent last was but there's been no evidence of more illness there.

The bug, he said, can be transmitted very easily, as simply as using the same telephone that an infected person has used.

The message is the same, he said make sure to keep your hands clean.

In addition to the Japanese students, there were 14 F.H. Collins Secondary School students and two staff who hosted the students during a three-hour tour of the school last Wednesday who reported being sick Friday.

None of the them went to Whitehorse general, and probably didn't even know each other was sick. They simply decided to stay home because they felt sick or were vomiting, Pare explained.

Most of the Japanese students and staff left for Vancouver on a flight Friday, though 32 remained behind, 19 of whom were able to secure seats Saturday. The rest left yesterday.

The bout with the bug didn't detract from their stay in Whitehorse, Matsumiya said.

'They enjoyed it very much,' she said. 'Especially the school exchange part, the school cultural visit they really enjoyed it.'