Norovirus Confirmed as Cause of Mass Illness Among Children in Tbilisi Kindergartens

@NGnewsgeorgia.  Norovirus was confirmed as the cause of the increased number of cases of gastroenteritis among children in Tbilisi, the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) reported, citing studies conducted.

Earlier, specialists had described norovirus as the most likely cause of the illness. The diagnosis has now been confirmed by the results of the studies.

Mass cases involving symptoms of gastroenteritis among children attending Tbilisi kindergartens began to be recorded on September 17. More than 100 children from 20 kindergartens were hospitalized. 

The educational process was temporarily suspended at seven municipal kindergartens.  Initially, possible food poisoning was suspected. The investigative service launched an investigation. As a preventive measure, milk, matsoni, cottage cheese, and sour cream were temporarily removed from the kindergartens’ menus.

According to the NCDC, the illness proceeded without complications; most of the children have already recovered and been discharged from medical facilities. Specialists also see no risk of complications developing.

Norovirus usually causes vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and sometimes an elevated temperature. The NCDC recommends replenishing lost fluids during the illness and avoiding dairy products as well as fatty, fried, and spicy foods for three to four days. Particular attention should be paid to hand hygiene.

Product inspections continue

The National Food Agency continues to investigate the circumstances of the outbreak in Tbilisi’s municipal kindergartens. The diagnosis has been made, but the investigation is seeking the source of the infection. 

To date, 70 facilities have been inspected, including 48 state kindergartens, a meat-production facility, and a dairy-products warehouse.

For laboratory testing, 502 samples of food products and drinking water were collected. Results are so far available for 39 samples, and no violations of safety standards were found in them. Testing of the remaining samples continues.

Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze called misinformation the rumors that the outbreak of mass illness in the kindergartens was caused by poor-quality chicken meat.

“That is a big lie. Don’t believe the scammers! There was no chicken meat on the menu at all in those days,” Kaladze said at a meeting at City Hall.