Mass Children’s Food Poisoning in Lviv Camp Due to Norovirus: Causes and Consequences
A widespread outbreak of illness among children in a children’s camp in the Lviv region has sparked significant concern among parents and healthcare professionals.
According to the Lviv Regional Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the cause of this situation was identified as norovirus, which was detected in the drinking water used for beverages and food preparation.
The director of the center, Natalia Ivanchenko-Timko, reported that as of now, there have been 53 reported cases of illness among children and staff members of the camp.
Blood samples from 12 children and one staff member confirmed the presence of the virus, while analysis of the water from the cooler indicated contamination with norovirus.
Most of the affected children have already received treatment and are under medical supervision in hospitals, while others continue their recovery.
Medical experts emphasize the importance of using only verified and safe water to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The head of the Lviv Center urged travelers and visitors not to neglect these recommendations, as even small amounts of contaminated water can lead to mass poisoning.
Similar cases have also been reported in Zakarpattia near the Shypit Waterfall, where multiple visitors suffered poisoning after drinking water from unverified sources.
At the same time, on the night of August 4, 25 people were hospitalized after symptoms of poisoning appeared at the ‘Friendly Camp’ in Stryi district, where children and young people were resting.
The number of hospitalized patients increased to 40 the following morning.
According to authorities, initial symptoms included nausea, stomach pain, vomiting, and diarrhea, which appeared on August 4.
The condition of patients remains moderate, with a positive trend towards recovery.
As a result of this incident, police opened a criminal case under Article 325 of the Ukrainian Criminal Code, which addresses violations of sanitary rules and norms leading to the spread of infectious diseases or mass poisoning.
Previously, a similar incident occurred in Lviv where 118 visitors of the ‘Chinese Greeting’ restaurant suffered from salmonellosis.
All these cases underscore the critical importance of adhering to hygiene and safety standards during organization and conduct of children’s camps and mass gatherings.