Chiro Camp Cut Short After Dozens of Children Fall Ill

A Chiro youth group from Machelen, a sub-municipality of Zulte in East Flanders, has ended its summer camp several days early after between 70 and 80 children fell ill during the week-long stay. The decision was made by camp leadership in consultation with a doctor and Chirojeugd Vlaanderen, the umbrella organization for Flemish Chiro groups, to prioritize the health and safety of campers.

The group of approximately 170 children, aged 6 to 18, was camping in Steinbach, in the Belgian province of Luxembourg, and was scheduled to remain until Tuesday. Instead, the campers returned home on Sunday, August 9, as confirmed by VRT NWS.

A Widespread Illness

According to Marij Germijns, spokesperson for Chirojeugd Vlaanderen, the illness affected a significant portion of the camp. “At this moment there are still about 20 sick children. Over the whole camp there have been 70 to 80 sick people,” Germijns told VRT NWS. Fortunately, most children recovered quickly, and none are seriously ill.

The camp leadership took several children to see a doctor and sought advice from Chirojeugd Vlaanderen before making the decision to end the camp early. “The leadership went to the doctor with some children and also asked us for advice,” Germijns explained. “It was then decided that it was best to stop early.”

Cause Still Unconfirmed

The cause of the illness remains unknown. While some media reports have suggested norovirus as the culprit, this has not been confirmed by the organization. “The cause of the illness is still unknown, possibly it’s a virus,” Germijns said. “It was indeed suggested that it was norovirus, but that has not been confirmed to us.”

Norovirus, a highly contagious virus that causes gastroenteritis, spreads easily in group settings such as camps, schools, and cruise ships. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps. Outbreaks in youth camps are not uncommon, particularly during the summer months when large groups of children live in close quarters.

A Disappointing End to Camp

For the children and leaders of Chiro Machelen, the early return marks an unfortunate conclusion to what was otherwise a positive experience. “It’s of course not a nice ending to an undoubtedly beautiful and fun camp,” Germijns acknowledged. “But we do give the leadership the tip to arrange a nice conclusion at home. That could be with a campfire, for example, but we leave that to the local leadership to decide.”

Chirojeugd Vlaanderen confirmed that almost all children have recovered. “Almost all children have recovered,” Germijns told Belga, the Belgian news agency.

The story was first reported by Het Laatste Nieuws and subsequently confirmed by Chirojeugd Vlaanderen. La Libre also covered the story in French, reporting that the group returned home on Sunday instead of Tuesday.

Background: Chiro in Flanders

Chiro is a Catholic youth movement in Flanders with roots in scouting, and it is one of the largest youth organizations in the region. Thousands of children participate in summer camps, known locally as “bivak” or “kamp,” each year. The province of Luxembourg is a popular destination for Flemish youth camps due to its natural environment and camping facilities.

Chiro Machelen consists of three sections: Chiro Hito and Chiro Sjima for boys, and Chiro Moaln for girls. According to the Zulte municipality website, Chiro Sjima Machelen serves boys aged 6 to 18 and meets on Sunday afternoons at the youth center on Leihoekstraat 6B.

This is not the first health-related incident involving Chiro Machelen. In a previous year, six leaders of the group tested positive for COVID-19 after a summer camp, requiring quarantine of the leadership team and preventive testing of 60 children.

Other Chiro Camps Affected

The early termination of Chiro Machelen’s camp is part of a broader pattern this summer. A separate incident involving Chiro Beselare was also reported in early August 2026, where a camp was ended early due to too many sick children. Additionally, more than 40 of 136 children at a Chiro Eppegem camp from Zemst became ill from a bacterial infection.

What’s Next

As the children of Chiro Machelen settle back home in Zulte, the focus now shifts to identifying the cause of the outbreak and ensuring a proper conclusion to what was meant to be a memorable summer experience. Chirojeugd Vlaanderen has encouraged the local leadership to organize a fitting send-off for the campers, allowing the group to end their camp on a positive note despite the circumstances.

For parents and camp organizers across Flanders, this incident serves as a reminder of the health challenges that can arise in group settings, and the importance of swift, decisive action when children’s well-being is at stake.