Colonia Etchepare gastroenteritis outbreak: three deaths under investigation; 81 of 444 hospitalized patients have the disease

There are currently 15 active cases, none of which are serious although being monitored.

The National Health Services Administration (ASSE) is investigating the causes of the deaths of three people at the Colonia Etchepare psychiatric hospital in Canelones province.

It is being analyzed for any link to an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis that has affected more than 80 patients.

The ASSE interdisciplinary team analyzed a diarrhea outbreak that caused 41 patients with acute gastroenteritis and has affected 81 people.

One of the most concerning aspects is that these patients are young and therefore unlikely to die from this disease.

“We are analyzing whether there is a link between these outbreaks of deaths. We have to know what clinical factors contributed to the deaths,” said ASSE Vice President Mario Torales.

There are currently 15 active cases, none of which are serious although being monitored.

Administrative Investigation and Scope of Incident

After learning of the situation over the weekend, ASSE issued a statement on Monday saying an administrative investigation was underway to address the cause of the incident and its consequences.

In this sense, it is also noteworthy that the patients who died had other medical conditions and their cases were referred to the Patient Safety Committee in order to determine whether their deaths were related to the gastroenteritis outbreak.

Regarding the scope of events at the health center, ASSE said that 81 of the 444 people living there were infected.