Noro virus Dozens of students collapse

Many students break up at a grammar school in Freital. Doctors suspect a noro virus infection as a possible reason for the physical breakdown of adolescents.

25/01/2011

At a high school in Freital (Saxony) dozens of students have collapsed. Some of the adolescents were hospitalized for circulatory problems. First signs indicate, according to the district chief emergency doctor, Ulf Aschenbrenner, a Noro virus infection. „All symptoms speak for it, final laboratory results are expected however only on Wednesday,“ explained Aschenbrenner.

Around 70 students from the Weißeritzgymnasium in Freital had to be treated for medical treatment during the morning. During the physical education classes, the first girls and boys suddenly complained of nausea, diarrhea and abdominal cramps and vomited partially. 16 girls and boys had collapsed and are currently in the hospital, according to the police, 20 more are under medical treatment. Cause of dizziness is likely to be a Noro virus infection, according to information from the district office.

Sixteen students in the hospital - Gymnasium closed
After some seventh grade students in physical education collapsed, the school alerted the emergency call and first air samples were taken in the gym because it was initially assumed that pollutants in the air might be responsible for students' circulatory problems. However, no exposure could be detected in the air samples, and during the morning additional fifth- and seventh-grade students collapsed in adjacent classrooms due to acute circulatory problems. Kati Hille, district school affairs official, said that many students in the gymnasium have been ill for days, with 13 students in 10th grade unsubscribing from class on Monday. For example, the affected students were probably already infected for a long time, and the physical education efforts have caused the Noro virus disease to be acute, explained the clerk. The high school was closed, teachers and students were allowed to leave the school building according to eyewitness reports until the afternoon. The rescue workers and fire brigade are in action with a large contingent. According to the police, 16 children had to be admitted to hospital, the other students were initially examined and treated in the school building. Overall, more than 70 girls and boys are affected, reports a spokesman for the police.

Landratsamt assumes Noro virus infection
Also Karin Kerber, spokeswoman for the district Saxon Switzerland-Eastern Ore Mountains, said on demand of „DNN-Online“, that an infection with the Noro virus is probably responsible for the collapses of the students. First investigations would indicate a Noro virus disease, stressed the spokeswoman of the district office. The symptoms of the affected students ranging from vomiting and dizziness to diarrhea and unconsciousness, where the disease characteristics are just as typical of the Noro virus, as well as the rapid spread, so the opinion of the district office. In a Noro virus infection, the incubation period is only a few hours, which would explain the rapid spread among the students, said Karin Kerber. At the Gymnasium, 891 students are currently taught by 81 teachers, according to official figures.

Noro viruses easily transmissible, with low incubation time
Although resuscitation surgeon Aschenbrenner believes that a wave of norovirus is not uncommon in schools at this time of year, a wave of infection with such rapid spread and collapses as suggested by the county council during the morning is still relatively rare. Although the Noro viruses often transmit even at a minimal infection dose of only 10 to 100 virus particles, but the incubation period is usually about ten to 50 hours. A transmission takes place through a contact infection or smear infection, in which the Noro virus excreted via the stool or vomit and are usually passed on to other people on a fecal-oral route. Often a contagion also happens over contaminated drinks, food and objects. Above all, residents and staff of community facilities of all kinds are particularly at risk, since the joint use of the hygiene facilities a local outbreak is promoted.

Noro viruses cause symptoms of severe gastrointestinal flu
Noro virus diseases are usually short and severe. After one to three days, the symptoms will fade away. The disease symptoms are characterized primarily by a gastroenteritis (gastrointestinal flu) with sudden diarrhea and vomiting. This can lead to significant fluid loss and is therefore particularly threatening for the elderly and children. Noro virus disease is usually accompanied by a marked malaise with abdominal pain, nausea, headache, and muscle pain, with more than 50 percent of patients vomiting. Massive circulatory collapses, as apparently occurred in the Gymnasium in Saxony, but are rare. The 20 affected students, who had also complained of similar symptoms after the first collapses, is in the opinion of the doctors probably hit only the excitement on the stomach.

County establishes citizen telephone
The county of Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge has set up a telephone for citizens' issues as a result of the incidents. In addition, the students who were in contact with patients were strictly separated from the other students, reports the school board. Already tomorrow, the lessons at the gymnasium should take place as planned, with all parents and students receive information sheets with information about the Noro virus and instructions on hygiene measures, according to the message from the school. (Fp)

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Hartmut910