Outbreak of viral infection in Odesa region: school switched to remote learning

An outbreak of norovirus infection has been reported at a school in Izmail district, Odesa region.

According to the Odesa Regional Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 24 people have already fallen ill, 23 of them are children. Five children have been hospitalized, the rest are being treated at home.

Due to the registration of group morbidity, the school has been temporarily switched to distance learning. Specialists from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, together with the regional health department, are conducting an investigation to find out the source of the infection.

Tests performed in the virology laboratory confirmed the presence of norovirus, a causative agent of acute intestinal infection. This virus is highly contagious and easily transmitted in public places, especially among children. Sanitary measures and additional laboratory tests are ongoing.

According to the Center, all patients are under medical supervision, and the situation is under medical control.

Norovirus infection is an acute intestinal infection characterized by symptoms of gastroenteritis and dehydration. The causative agent is norovirus, one of the enteroviruses. The virus is resistant to drying, freezing, heating up to 60 degrees, and is killed only by chlorine-containing disinfectants.

Norovirus is transmitted

• by airborne droplets;
• by food
• fecal-oral;
• household contact;
• water.

Acute intestinal infection spreads rapidly in crowded places and institutions. The incubation period of norovirus infection is from several hours to 3 days.

Symptoms include nausea and frequent vomiting, diarrhea, fever, muscle and abdominal pain, general weakness, and body aches. If they appear, you should immediately contact your family doctor, the doctors said.

Ірина Глухова