Hundreds of students at two primary schools in Ljubljana, Slovenia, have been absent from classes because of gastrointestinal symptoms, prompting increased hygiene measures and an epidemiological investigation. At the Božidar Jakac Primary School, 214 students were absent, almost half of the school’s total enrollment, while the situation was even more serious at Koseze Primary School, where 500 of approximately 700 students did not attend classes. Several teachers were also absent because of health problems. The scale of the absence reminded school officials of the COVID 19 period, with the principal of Božidar Jakac saying that the school had not experienced such a large number of absent children since the pandemic.
Despite the unusually high number of absences, classes continued at both schools. At Božidar Jakac, five teachers were absent, but the school maintained its regular schedule and kept the kitchen operating. An inspection carried out at the school reportedly found no irregularities, while the kitchen was additionally disinfected. Both schools introduced stricter hygiene measures, including more frequent disinfection of door handles, desks and other surfaces, increased ventilation and reminders for students to wash their hands more often. Students at Koseze were reportedly instructed to wash their hands during every break and even after blowing their noses.
The Koseze school took additional precautions by temporarily closing its kitchen while waiting for test results. Students continued attending classes and were provided with delivered dry food instead. Initial rapid tests of the school’s water supply were reported to be normal, and kitchen employees did not have symptoms. The kitchen was therefore expected to reopen once the necessary checks were completed. The measures were introduced as a precaution while health officials worked to determine whether the illnesses were connected and what caused the unusually large number of cases.
Slovenia’s National Institute of Public Health is continuing its epidemiological investigation, with a possible norovirus infection among the explanations being examined. Norovirus is highly contagious and commonly causes vomiting, diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms, but authorities had not yet confirmed that it was responsible for the illnesses at the two schools. The situation is therefore still being monitored, while schools continue enhanced hygiene procedures to limit any further spread. The large number of absent students has nevertheless raised concern in Ljubljana, particularly because such a high level of school absence has not been seen at these schools since the COVID 19 epidemic.
