Three students in Porvoo’s Kantele House and Vellamo have been diagnosed with intestinal infection caused by the EHEC bacterium
Three students at the Kevätkumpu and Vårberga schools in Kanteletalo and Vellamo in Porvoo have been found to have an EHEC intestinal infection. This building also hosts preschool groups from the Kevättuuli kindergarten. The Environmental Health Department of the City of Porvoo, working with the Wellbeing Services County, is looking into whether there is a connection between the symptoms and the school meals.
While this investigation is ongoing, fresh vegetables will be removed from school meals until after the autumn holiday to ensure that food served at school is safe. Fresh fruit that the students can peel themselves can be served. Everyone is encouraged to pay extra attention to hand hygiene after using the bathroom.
Parents of students with symptoms need to contact health care providers
The EHEC bacteria can cause inflammation in the intestines, leading to symptoms like diarrhea and stomach cramps. Some people may experience bloody diarrhea. Parents are asked to contact the school nurse or the HyväDigi nurse chat service if their children at school or preschool had stomach issues between September 22 and September 30.
- School Nurse Contact: you can send a message through Wilma or if needed, phone Anna-Maija Lalu, Kevätkummun koulu, Vårberga skola: 040 188 2424.
- HyVä-digi Service: Available weekdays from 8:00 AM to 7:30 PM and Saturdays from 9:00 AM to 2:30 PM. You can find HyVä-digi from https://itauusimaa.fi(siirryt toiseen palveluun)
- If a student has new symptoms of bloody diarrhea, they should also reach out to the hospital emergency department tel. 116 117 Porvoo Emergency Department(siirryt toiseen palveluun)
About EHEC
EHEC is a type of bacteria found in cattle. People can get sick from eating raw meat, unpasteurized milk, or raw vegetables that are contaminated. The infection can also spread from person to person if proper hand hygiene is not followed. Even a tiny amount of this bacteria can cause illness.
Cooking food properly kills the EHEC bacteria, making it safe to eat.
EHEC can spread through feces, so good hand hygiene is very important. Hands should be washed with soap and water after using the toilet or changing diapers.
Symptoms of EHEC include diarrhea and stomach cramps, with some people experiencing bloody diarrhea.
EHEC is a bacterial disease and there is no vaccination to prevent it.