Henan Xinyang Maternity Center: Postpartum Woman Diarrhea Detected with Norovirus

On January 3rd, the news of “Noro virus detected in kitchen knives at a postpartum care center in Xinyang, Henan Province” went viral, sparking widespread concern. Relatives of postpartum mothers reported that the center, which charges more than 20,000 yuan for a 28-day stay, ran into issues just 5 days into their stay, leading them to believe it was an individual problem until multiple people at the center experienced similar issues.

Recently, netizens complained that several individuals at a postpartum care center in Xinyang, Henan, suffered from diarrhea and other issues with no reasonable solutions provided. On January 2nd, the Yangshan New District Branch of the Xinyang Municipal Market Supervision and Administration Bureau announced that Noro virus was detected in the kitchen knives at the postpartum care center.

According to online descriptions, the incident occurred on the evening of December 27, 2024, when multiple postpartum mothers and their relatives who were staying at the care center experienced varying degrees of symptoms like diarrhea and fever after consuming dinner provided by the facility. Despite requesting a refund from the center, the relatives were denied, leading them to deem the response unreasonable.

The postpartum care center in question is located in Pingqiao District, Xinyang, Henan, as indicated by netizens.

One netizen shared several photos of hospital visits. Additionally, a document titled “Compensation Apology Explanation” provided by the center stated compensation plans for medical expenses, hospitalization costs, and a 5000 yuan nutritional fee due to the recent Noro virus outbreak at the center causing inconvenience and unpleasant experiences for the residents.

In the comment section, multiple users raised similar concerns. One user named “断了線的風箏” mentioned experiencing vomiting, diarrhea, and fever starting on December 31st after checking in on December 28th.

Another user, “麥田裡的守護者,” shared a health inspection report from the Xinyang City Center for Disease Control and Prevention dated December 30, 2024, confirming the presence of Noro virus at the postpartum care center. The report indicated that Norovirus GⅡ was detected in feces samples and kitchen knives from the center on December 29, 2024.

User “楊柳依依” commented on the delayed actions of the victims, explaining that it was due to the center citing force majeure to refuse refunds.

The mother of a postpartum mother who stayed at the facility contacted on January 2nd mentioned that her daughter entered the center on December 23, 2024, for a 28-day stay at a cost of over 20,000 yuan. She expressed surprise at the incident, believing the center was a safe and reliable place for new mothers.

“We only consumed food arranged by the center, without eating anything else,” she recalled. On the night of December 27, the center served dinner, including beef, sautéed shrimp with celery, and shrimp soup, without providing a menu. “I only had two shrimp that day, which might have been the issue. I had stomach pain that night and started experiencing diarrhea the next day, leading me to seek medical attention.”

“My daughter started vomiting and having diarrhea on the early morning of the 28th, with frequent episodes throughout the night,” the mother said. Initially attributing it to her daughter’s constitution, she realized the severity of the situation after other families inquired about symptoms. “I heard there were less than 30 postpartum mothers at the center, with over ten showing symptoms of varying severity.”

Following the incident, the postpartum care center denied responsibility. The mother and her daughter filed a complaint around December 30, 2024, and received a response stating that Noro virus infection was to blame. On January 1, the center offered a 5000 yuan nutritional compensation, aligning with the posted “Compensation Apology Explanation.”

“For a monthly fee of 20,000 yuan at a postpartum care center, basic food safety couldn’t even be guaranteed. We requested a full refund and compensation for medical expenses totaling around 22,000 yuan,” said the mother. While the center initially agreed to her daughter’s demands, they asked them to sign an agreement specifying a one-time compensation of 22,000 yuan, which they found unreasonable given that the requested amount was a refund, not compensation.

Regarding the complaints, attempts to contact the postpartum care center on January 2nd were unsuccessful.

Staff at the Yangshan New District Branch of Xinyang Municipal Market Supervision and Administration Bureau stated they were handling the situation and awaiting further details on the Noro virus detection in the kitchen knives.

On the same day, the local Center for Disease Control and Prevention did not respond to media inquiries.

Information on the Meituan App revealed the price list for the postpartum care center: Sunshine Postpartum Room Package for 28 days at 32,800 yuan; Deluxe Suite Postpartum Package for 28 days at 35,800 yuan; and Special Offer Postpartum Package for 28 days at 23,800 yuan.

Business qualification details indicated that the postpartum care center was established on May 17, 2024. The company’s registration authority was listed as the “Yangshan New District Branch of Xinyang Municipal Market Supervision and Administration Bureau.”