Another salmonella case after 5 die in nursing home

Another salmonella case after 5 die in nursing home

According to Milosevic, the patient is "a neighbor" of the Dvoje nursing home.

He added that the condition of two other patients the hospital is treating for the same disease has deteriorated.

Currently, the Cacak hospital is treating nine salmonella poisoning patients, while one more has been admitted to the Uzice Health Care Center.

The nursing home salmonella epidemic was reported on April 16. 41 persons have been infected, among them the staff and two locals. Five persons have passed away.

Labor Ministry's Social Protection Inspection chief Biljana Zekavica told the media that "shortcomings have been identified in the work of the nursing home's employees," but that those shortcomings would not have been grave enough "to cause this kind of epidemic."

She told Tanjug that "the entire facility has not yet been inspected," and that results of microbiological tests are also pending. According to Zekavica, the nursing home's license could be revoked, but the outcome will be known "once all relevant institutions submit their reports that will determine any deviations from the norm."

The police in Cacak has formed a team to investigate the salmonella outbreak, said chief Predrag Pavlovic, and added that autopsy reports for the five victims have not yet been completed.

"This process will take some time, and the results will be announced by the Basic Public Prosecution," Pavlovic said.