Increase in digestive diseases among Tehran students; an epidemiologist criticizes the exclusivity of the data

Following an increase in cases of diarrhea and vomiting among Iranian students, an epidemiology professor at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences criticized the Ministry of Health for its "lack of transparency" in providing information regarding the spread of the disease in dormitories.

Hamid Suri, noting that such infections can have a viral origin, said: "One-third to one-quarter of those infected may have had prolonged Covid."

The epidemiologist says, "Until the necessary investigations and tests are conducted, we cannot talk about it and, pointing to the Ministry of Health, hold this institution responsible for this matter."

Souri says that access to data in Iran is "exclusively" in the hands of a certain group, adding that as health experts, they are deprived of this information.

Following an increase in cases of diarrhea and vomiting among students at several Iranian universities, which has infected about a hundred people, experts and health officials have expressed different opinions about the cause of the disease.

The director general of public relations at Imam Sadiq University, where 38 cases have been observed, said: "Doctors have confirmed that this is a viral infection."

The deputy head of medical treatment at Tehran University of Medical Sciences told Rokna News Agency that a "new virus" was the main cause of the students' infection.

Saeed Nateghi said the virus is spreading "extremely" in Tehran and that many employees at Tehran University of Medical Sciences have also been infected .

Not long ago, the head of the Iranian Society of Internal Medicine Specialists attributed the increase in cases of these infections to "lack of hygiene principles" that lead to the spread of "intestinal viruses."

This comes while the head of the Ministry of Health's Department of Water and Foodborne Diseases has said that the increase in cases of diarrhea and vomiting is not a "new disease."

Maryam Masoudifar says that after the reduction of the coronavirus and the resumption of gatherings and contacts, patients have shown symptoms that are "similar to the previous symptom picture . "

This is while many domestic Iranian media outlets, citing officials, are reporting the complete end of the coronavirus pandemic in Iran and the overcoming of the disease within the country, although experts believe that the Covid situation in the country remains fragile.

Source: Voice of America