Outbreak of E. coli in Latvia, visualized on maps
In the past few weeks, an outbreak of E. coli intestinal infection has been spreading across Latvia, with the majority of cases affecting children. As of 28 March, a total of 51 people have been infected - 28 children aged between one and ten years and seven adults.
The first cases were reported in Riga, Salaspils municipality, Adazi municipality, and South Kurzeme municipality. Since then, the disease has spread to other areas, including Sigulda, Cēsis, and Jelgava.
On 19 March, the outbreak began, and by Thursday, 3 April, 58 cases had been registered. On that same day, 16 children were being treated at the Children's Clinical University Hospital in Riga, with four of them in intensive care. Some children have since been discharged.
The hospital has been treating all the children currently receiving hospital treatment due to the outbreak. On the last day of March, more than 20 kindergarteners were treated at the hospital.
As of 25 March, 12 cases had been laboratory confirmed, and by 26 March, 19 people were laboratory-confirmed with the infection, and a total of 21 people were reported ill. On 2 April, 53 cases were reported, and by the end of the month, the outbreak had affected 40 people.
The authorities have been investigating the affected kindergartens and schools, focusing on kindergartens (Kitas) and nursing homes as particularly sensitive areas for such gastrointestinal infections. However, the specific institutions have not been named. The authorities have checked possible sources like food and animal contacts but without identifying a clear pattern.
Riga has the highest number of cases with 27, followed by Adazi with eight cases, and Sigulda with ten cases. The doctors at the Children's Hospital stated that they did not recall the dangerous E. coli infection having broken out on this scale before on 28 March.
The E. coli outbreak has also affected 26 kindergartens and two schools, with 13 kindergartens and one school recording cases on 28 March. A total of 900 contacts have been identified.
The authorities continue to monitor the situation closely and take necessary measures to contain the outbreak and protect the public health.
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