Norovirus confirmed in boarding school in Hesse

45 norovirus infections in the Hessian boarding school confirmed by health authorities

01/02/2011

The norovirus is killing. After DRK and emergency physicians had left on Friday for a large-scale operation because of acute vomiting diarrhea of ​​students in the Hermann Lietz School in Hohenwehrda, the suspicion of a Norovirus infection has now been confirmed

In the meantime, five teachers and 40 students had received medical treatment for the typical symptoms of norovirus - abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea accompanied by the threat of circulatory collapse. Twenty-seven students were treated as outpatients directly after the large-scale operation on Friday. Of the three children who were admitted to the hospital, however, two could already be released, said Dieter Gobrecht, medical officer of the district Hersfeld-Rotenburg, on Monday. The temporary sickbed in the boarding school was meanwhile also dissolved again and the school operation continues to run normally, reported the headmistress Sabine Hasenjäger.

Norovirus infections: boarding is being disinfected
Although still around ten children and three teachers affected, but the norovirus is starting to subsides, explained the medical officer of the district Hersfeld-Rotenburg. „After 24 to 36 hours, this is usually (...) endurable for the individual“, so Gobrecht. In order to avoid further infections, the entire school building is currently being disinfected as a precautionary measure, said the headmistress. „Here it looks like in a surgery“, so the comment of Sabine Hasenjäger on the comprehensive disinfection measures. While some parents understandably reacted with great alarm to the events in the boarding school, the majority, however, had dealt prudently with the events after a telephone call, according to the Headmistress. In addition, the school administration will inform all relatives of the students in a Rundmail about the illness and the measures taken, emphasized Hasenjäger.

Norovirus infections increased drastically throughout Germany
Currently, a veritable wave of norovirus seems to cover Germany. The number of reported illnesses has increased rapidly in the last two months. In itself nothing unusual, because as well as the seasonal influenza waves, the Norovirus infections occur especially in the winter months. However, according to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the number of new cases has risen dramatically in the last ten years. According to the estimates of the RKI, around one million people worldwide were infected with norovirus last year, which was about a hundred times more than in 2001.

Norovirus infection causes severe gastroenteritis
Infection with Norovirus is characterized by a relatively short incubation period, followed by a likewise relatively short but severe disease. The symptoms are essentially severe gastroenteritis - sudden diarrhea and severe vomiting are often signs of norovirus infection. The virus is transmitted by the so-called lubrication or contact infection. The Noroviruses are excreted from already infected persons via stool and vomit and taken by their fellow on the faecal-oral route. In addition, since the Noroviruses are very resistant - they can not be affected by temperature fluctuations of minus 20 to plus 60 degrees - it is also relatively easy to transfer them via contaminated objects, food and drinks.

Norovirus infection risk in community facilities significantly increased
In community facilities such as the now affected Hessian boarding school, the risk of infection is also particularly high, since not only the generally close contact with roommates but also the sharing of hygiene facilities, such as shared toilets, promotes a local outbreak. However, strict adherence to certain hygiene standards, such as regular hand washing or the decoction of laundry and dishes, can help to at least roughly protect against infection. Since a significant loss of fluid is associated with a Norovirus infection, the diarrheal diarrhea should not be taken lightly, especially in children, the elderly and the weakened, and a doctor should be consulted in the event of serious illness. (Fp)

Also read:
Norovirus confirmed in the Hessian Haunetal
Norovirus cases not uncommon
Beware of Noro virus

Picture: Gerd Altmann