According to Tbilisi Deputy Mayor Kakha Abuladze, it is established that norovirus entered the city’s kindergartens “from outside.”

Speaking on the First Channel, Abuladze said it had been confirmed that the illness among children at kindergartens was caused by a virus rather than food poisoning.

“The cause of the illness has already been established. The National Center for Disease Control issued its first statement on September 20, linking the children’s illnesses with a high probability to norovirus. Then, on September 22, it was confirmed that it was norovirus. On the same day, the National Food Agency reported that around 80 samples had been examined, that the studies were ongoing, and that this was not a food-related incident.

The fact is that this virus entered the kindergartens from outside. We are also waiting for the investigation to be completed so that we can determine exactly where the infection originated. We fully understand the parents as well, because this issue was particularly sensitive for us until the cause was established. There is no doubt that we are dealing with a virus, which does not surprise us. Both spring and this period of autumn are usually times when viruses become more prevalent,” the Tbilisi Deputy Mayor said.

According to him, norovirus has not been limited to kindergartens, and people from other groups of the population have also been seeking medical care for the virus.

“It should also be noted that those infected were not only children attending our public kindergartens. We have information that there were other infected patients as well, including a teacher. We are in communication with many practicing doctors, and this is not an issue limited to kindergartens. People from other groups of the population have also been seeking treatment at clinics,” Kakha Abuladze said on the First Channel program “Day’s Topic.”