Authorities investigate source of norovirus epidemic in Turkey’s Sakarya
SAKARYA - Demirören News Agency
Local authorities in the Karasu district of the western province of Sakarya are working to determine the source of an epidemic that is believed to have been caused by norovirus.
Some 4,600 people rushed to hospitals in the district within six days with complaints of vomiting, diarrhea and fever.
The authorities suspect that the source of the virus could be drinking water. They are now inspecting the water supply network.
Teams from the provincial directorate of health and the Sakarya Water and Sewerage Administration (SASKİ) collected samples and have run tests on them.
They are also inspecting buildings in the area to see whether the residents illegally use SASKİ’s network. They have found a total of 827 illegal water pipe connections and issued fines.
Meanwhile, some people, who had swum in the sea in Karasu, also showed symptoms of norovirus infection and were admitted to hospitals in the district.
Mehmet İspiroğlu, the mayor of Karasu, told reporters that authorities observed the color of the sea has changed in some sections along the Karasu beach.
“Samples were collected from the sea by the Coast Guard and the provincial directorate of health to conduct tests. The Coast Guard asked the people to walk out of the sea,” İspiroğlu said.
Authorities imposed a temporary ban on swimming as a precaution.
“We will continue to take measures and the ban will not be lifted until we see the test results,” İspiroğlu said.
