Magnesia / What is the cause of the large increase in gastroenteritis cases – What does the EODY report

In log out of the death of the woman who was admitted to the Volos hospital on Sunday night with symptoms of gastroenteritis, from confluence of dozens of cases of infection from salmonella in his areas Rice and his Stefanovikiou the EODY proceeded, citing characteristics:

“The unpleasant incident in which our fellow man ended up in Volos General Hospital from gastroenteritis, with the epidemiological data so far of the investigation not correlated with the outbreak of cases in Stefanovikio and Rizomylo”.

In addition, based on the updated information on outbreak of gastroenteritis cases in Magnesiathe EODY notes that in total they have been recorded 100 cases of gastroenteritis of all ages.

Out of 100 cases, nine children were hospitalized in the pediatric clinic, of which two have been discharged while a overage with underlying diseases is being treated at ICU of GN Volos.

In addition, based on the first results of laboratory control of the water samples taken, according to EODY “there is a microbiological burden in samples from the regional network and the reservoir. In particular, in addition to microbial indicators of faecal contamination found at several sampling points additionally detected Salmonella spp. in the tank and in two additional samples of the regional network».

“Regarding the laboratory control of of clinical samples, one (1) stool sample taken from a patient who came to the Velestino Hospital and was sent to the Thessaly Hospital is positive for Salmonella. Six (6) stool samples from the children hospitalized at GN Volos are also positive for Salmonella and the completion of the laboratory control of the stool samples of the remaining three (3) children is pending. It has been requested to send the clinical cultures to the National Salmonella-Sigella Reference Center (EKASS) for serotyping.

Finally, EODY recommends the continuation of non-use of potable water for consumption and strict adherence of personal hygiene measuresto avoid the secondary transmission of the disease.

The water is recommended to be used exclusively for use toilet (cisterns) and no for washing food, Friday food the individual cleanliness. If it is to be used, it should be boiled at 100 degrees for at least three minutes.

The updated update of the EODY in detail:

“EODY informs about the increased number of cases of gastroenteritis that has been observed since 27/5/24, in residents of the areas of Rizomylos and Stefanovikiou, PE of Magnesia, and in continuation of the DT of 01/06/24 the following:

– The unpleasant incident in which our fellow man ended up in Volos General Hospital from gastroenteritis, with the epidemiological data of the investigation so far, is not related to the outbreak of cases in Stefanovikio and Rizomylo.

– From the registration of the cases and from the telephone communications that have been made with the KY Velestinos, the GN Volos and the PGN Larisa until today 03/06/24, a total of 100 cases of gastroenteritis, of all ages, have come to the health facilities in question of both sexes, with symptom onset dates between 05/24/24-06/24/24. Nine (9) children were hospitalized in the pediatric clinic, of which 2 have been discharged while an elderly person with underlying diseases is hospitalized in the ICU of GN Volos. These are residents of the areas in question whose connection to the phenomenon is being investigated.

On 31/05/2024 the Department of Health Control and Environmental Hygiene (TYEPY) of the PE of Magnesia, in collaboration with the EODY, went to the areas for sanitary identification of the water supply network, took water samples from points representative of the water supply network and sent them to PEDY of Thessaly for laboratory control. Today, 03/06/24, new water samples were taken from boreholes, the tank and points representative of the network.

According to the first results of the laboratory control of the water samples, there is a microbiological burden in samples from the regional network and the reservoir. In particular, in addition to microbial indicators of fecal contamination found in several sampling points, additional Salmonella spp. in the tank and in two additional samples of the regional network. Laboratory testing of water samples and identification of pathogens will continue in the coming days.

With reference to the laboratory control of the clinical samples, one (1) stool sample taken from a patient who came to the KY of Velestino and sent to the PEDY of Thessaly is positive for Salmonella. Six (6) stool samples from the children hospitalized at GN Volos are also positive for Salmonella and the completion of the laboratory control of the stool samples of the remaining three (3) children is pending. It has been requested that the clinical cultures be sent to the National Salmonella-Sigella Reference Center (NKASS) for serotyping.

The EODY and the PEDY of Thessaly, in collaboration with the Directorate of Public Health and Social Care (DDY) and the TYEPY of the PE of Magnesia, informed the Municipality of Riga Feraio on 31/05/2024 about the phenomenon. DEYA Riga Feraiu issued a notice to citizens regarding the non-use of water from the water supply network for human use.

EODY recommends the continuation of non-use of drinking water for human consumption and the strict observance of personal hygiene measures, to avoid the secondary transmission of the disease. The water is recommended to be used exclusively for toilet use and not for washing food, food preparation or personal cleaning. If it has to be used, it should be boiled at 100 degrees for at least 3 minutes.

The EODY, in collaboration with the DDY of the Magnesia Region, have given the appropriate instructions to immediately start the sanitation of the water supply network, which concerns both boreholes, reservoirs (cleaning, disinfection, superchlorination) as well as the flushing of the regional network. Checks on the water supply network will be daily until the water quality is fully restored.

The investigation is ongoing. A team from the EODY and the PEDY of Thessaly went to the PE of Magnesia on 3/6/24 for an on-site epidemiological investigation, while an analytical epidemiological study has been launched in order to fully investigate the phenomenon”.