Hotel Heba issues denial regarding student illnesses at Divčibare

Following reports that over 20 second-grade students from Novi Sad's 'Žarko Zrenjanin' Elementary School suffered stomach-like virus symptoms during a recreational trip to Divčibare, Hotel Heba has issued an urgent denial. While the Institute of Public Health of Vojvodina reported unsatisfactory sanitary and hygienic conditions in the kitchen areas during inspections, the hotel maintains that the definitive cause of the illnesses has not been established.

Preliminary reports from the Valjevo Institute of Public Health suggest a viral infection spread through contact or airborne routes. The hotel stated that claims regarding the inspection 'discovering why children fell ill' are premature and that hygiene findings do not constitute a final epidemiological conclusion.

Legal advisor Žana Karavezić Krbanjević from the 'Prosperitet' Consumer Protection Association noted that parents may be entitled to a proportional price reduction if it is determined that contracted accommodation and catering services were not provided according to the agreement. Under the Law on Tourism, complaints regarding incomplete services must be filed within one month of the irregularity or 15 days from the end of the trip.