Salmonella outbreak forces closure of Prague primary school, hundreds fall ill

Health authorities announced that salmonella has been detected in four children attending Masarykova základní škola in Újezd nad Lesy, part of Prague, after an outbreak sickened at least 240 students and ten staff members with digestive complaints. The school, which enrolls roughly 1,100 children, suspended all classes on Thursday and Friday and is conducting a comprehensive cleaning of its kitchen and cafeteria. Officials from the Prague Hygiene Station are testing food samples from the canteen and working with suppliers to identify the contaminated batch.

Emergency services reported 55 calls about symptoms, with 20 patients hospitalized. The outbreak is being treated as an epidemic, and public health officials urge families to practice strict hand-washing and hygiene to prevent further spread.