Official Investigation Points to Main Cause of School Outbreak in Tomsk
In the first week of the new academic year, School "Opening" (School No. 46) found itself in an unexpected situation. Nine urgent notifications of suspected infectious gastroenteritis cases among students attending the second shift of the second grade were received by Rospotrebnadzor. A total of 306 children are enrolled in this shift.
On September 5, Rospotrebnadzor launched an epidemiological investigation at School "Opening" to determine the cause of the outbreak. Preliminary data suggests that the outbreak may have been caused by a foodborne toxic infection.
As part of the investigation, swabs were taken from classrooms and toilets, and samples of raw materials, prepared dishes, "daily samples," disinfectant solutions, surface swabs, and drinking water were collected from the school's kitchen. The kitchen staff and institution employees were screened for intestinal infection carriage.
The search results do not contain information about the responsible persons for the kitchen in the "Offen" school building related to the outbreak of suspected infectious gastroenteritis cases among students. However, the school and the catering organizer were issued orders to conduct additional measures, including room disinfection.
Medical observation of contacts was also part of the additional measures taken. Among the affected students, all had mild to moderate symptoms. Two students were hospitalized in an infectious hospital and were subsequently discharged upon recovery.
Rospotrebnadzor notes that the situation is currently under control. The agency reminds that in case of suspected poisoning, one should immediately seek medical help. They assure the public that they are doing everything possible to identify the source of the outbreak and take appropriate measures to prevent further cases.
Read also:
- Is it advisable to utilize your personal health insurance in a publicly-funded medical facility?
- Dietary strategies for IBS elimination: Aims and execution methods
- Benefits, suitable dosage, and safety considerations for utilizing pumpkin seed oil in treating an overactive bladder
- Harmful Medical Remedies: A Misguided Approach to Healing
