42 Swiss Army recruits fall ill with norovirus in Isone TI
Published: Wednesday, Feb 28th 2024, 16:20
Updated At: Thursday, Feb 29th 2024, 00:59
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42 members of the army's special forces recruit school stationed in Isone TI have fallen ill with norovirus. They have been isolated to prevent further spread and are receiving medical care, as the Defense Group announced on Wednesday.
The affected recruits were suffering from gastrointestinal complaints, according to the Defense Group, which is part of the Federal Department of Defense, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS).
Noroviruses cause gastrointestinal infections. The virus is transmitted relatively easily from person to person and there is no vaccination. This is why there are repeated outbreaks in communal facilities such as barracks, care homes and hospitals, the report continued.
There are repeated outbreaks of norovirus in the Swiss Armed Forces. For example, 33 recruits fell ill at the barracks in Sion VS at the beginning of 2020. In 2016, the virus affected 38 recruits at the genius recruit school stationed in Zuchwil SO. The largest outbreak in the army in recent years occurred at Switzerland's largest military base in Thun BE. At that time, 90 members of the army contracted norovirus.
Normally, a norovirus infection lasts up to 72 hours and disappears by itself. Norovirus infections are most frequently observed in the winter months from November to March. Symptoms of an illness are severe vomiting, fever and diarrhea.
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