Kea Island's Gastroenteritis Crisis: Not Waterborne!

A stunning health scare has gripped the picturesque Aegean island of Kea, where over 250 individuals fell ill earlier this month. However, the National Public Health Organization (EODY) has just cleared the island's water supply of contamination, sparking even more concern about the true source of the outbreak.

On August 22, EODY mobilized a specialized team after reports of alarming numbers of gastroenteritis cases flooded in daily. While water samples from the northern part of the island tested negative for harmful pathogens, results from the southern area are still awaited.

Experts now suspect that a highly contagious virus—likely Norovirus—is behind this unsettling outbreak. With the ongoing summer festivities and an influx of tourists, the conditions have proven ripe for the rapid spread of illness.

Epidemiologist Dimitris Paraskevis warns, "This particular virus can be transmitted easily. From shared toilets to inadequate cleaning after an incident, it’s critical to maintain hygiene to prevent further outbreaks."