A significant stomach illness outbreak has affected Fjärås Bräckaskolan in Kungsbacka, Sweden, with hundreds of students absent from school on Thursday, February 26, 2026. According to reports from Kungsbacka-Posten cited by both SVT Nyheter and Göteborgs-Posten, approximately 35 percent of the school's 600 students and 10 percent of staff were absent due to symptoms including vomiting and diarrhea.
School principal Zandra Jonasson told reporters, "It's very many, today more than yesterday," while noting that not all absences may be due to actual stomach illness. The school has implemented enhanced cleaning and sanitation measures, including extra hygiene precautions in the cafeteria.
It's very many, today more than yesterday
The school has been in contact with Smittskydd Halland (the Halland Infection Protection Agency), which reportedly described the situation as "quite normal" and stated that school closure is not currently being considered. Despite the high absentee rate, school officials say teaching has not been significantly affected, with some classes reportedly having as few as 13 students present.
School leadership emphasized that they cannot recommend preventive absence for siblings of sick students, unlike preschool protocols. "School attendance requirements are strong. We cannot recommend, for example, siblings of sick students to stay home, unlike in preschool," said another principal, Wictoria Persson.
School attendance requirements are strong. We cannot recommend, for example, siblings of sick students to stay home, unlike in preschool
The school expects to return to normal operations by Monday, according to principal Zandra Jonasson.