“The epidemiological data of the investigation so far indicate that the tragic incident in which a person died at the General Hospital of Volos because of gastroenteritis is not related to the outbreak of cases in Stefanovikio and Rizomylo” the National Public Health Organisation (EODY) reports today. The update comes because of the increased number of cases of gastroenteritis that have been observed since 27/5/24, in residents of the areas of Rizomylos and Stefanovikiou, in the Magnesia region.

To date, 100 cases of gastroenteritis, of all ages and genders, with onset dates between 05/24-06/24, have arrived at these health facilities. Nine children were hospitalised in the paediatric clinic, of which 2 have been discharged, while an elderly person with underlying diseases is hospitalised in the ICU of Volos General Hospital. 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 Magnesia, in collaboration with 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 the Thessaly Public Health Laboratory (PEDY) for control.

Today, new water samples were taken from boreholes, the reservoir 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, reports EODY.

“Specifically in addition to microbial indicators of faecal contamination found in several sampling points additional Salmonella spp. were detected in a tank and in two additional samples of the regional network. The laboratory testing of the water samples and the identification of the pathogens will continue in the coming days.

With reference to the laboratory control of the clinical samples, a stool sample taken from a patient who came to the Velestino Hospital and was sent to the Thessaly Hospital is positive for Salmonella. Six stool samples from the children hospitalised at the Volos General Hospital are also positive for Salmonella, and the completion of the laboratory control of the stool samples of the remaining three children is pending.

EODY recommends to not use tap 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 authorities have ordered the immediate sanitation of the water supply network, which concerns both boreholes, reservoirs (cleaning, disinfection, super-chlorination) and the flushing of the regional network. Checks on the water supply network will be daily until the water quality is fully restored.

A team from the EODY and the Thessaly Public Health Laboratory went to Magnesia today, for an on-site epidemiological investigation, while an analytical epidemiological study has been launched in order to fully investigate the incident.

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