Norovirus in Schwäbisch Hall

40 children probably suffering from norovirus infections

08/12/2013

About 40 children have probably had an infection with Norovirus after attending a language course in Schwäbisch-Hall. According to the district authorities' complaint „more and more of the mainly young people aged 10 to 14 years at night from Saturday to Sunday and during the morning on Sunday morning, nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea.“ In addition, some of those affected had to contend with significant circulation problems.

Of the 80 or so participants in the language course, around 40 reported significant gastrointestinal upset. „Help from doctors, police health and consumer protection office and other support services was very fast on the spot“ and some sufferers had to be hospitalized for outpatient care, reported the district Schwäbisch Hall in a recent press release. The authorities suspect infections with Norovirus as the cause of the complaints.

Determination of the pathogens completed at the end of the week at the earliest
The way in which the participants in the course in teaching the German language and culture could have become infected with the Noroviruses at the educational institution in Schwäbisch Hall remains an open question. In a first review, the kitchen was initially examined as a possible source of infection, according to the district. But have the control of the hygienic state of the kitchen „no complaints“ according to the official press release. Samples of all meals served from Friday morning to Sunday have already been taken by food experts from the district office. However, the results of the laboratory analysis are not expected before the end of this week, explained the press office of the district office Schwäbisch Hall. Depending on which pathogens have caused the disease, the laboratory examination could be different consuming and possibly take longer. In addition, in the lab „examined the stool samples taken from the health department of the patients“, So the district Schwäbisch Hall continues. (Fp)

Noroviruses in community facilities are a significant problem
According to the official statements, it is the most affected „according to reports, today already better.“ Although it has not yet been conclusively clarified, causing the complaints were, but is suspected in the symptoms observed, the suspected Norovirus infection, so the assessment of the district office Schwäbisch Hall. Noroviruses are relatively common in community settings such as schools, kindergartens, nursing homes or on cruise ships for sudden mass gastrointestinal diseases. The highly contagious pathogens are often transmitted by fecal-oral route by smear infection directly from person to person, but can also be passed on contaminated food and surfaces of everyday objects. Typical is the quasi-simultaneous occurrence of numerous diseases in a facility. (Fp)

Picture: Hartmut910