Parents and carers are being urged to keep sick children at home following a spike in the number of gastroenteritis outbreaks in childcare centres.
Executive Director of Health Protection at NSW Health, Dr Richard Broome said 156 outbreaks of gastroenteritis in early childhood education centres were reported in NSW in February.
“Almost 1,000 children and more than 210 staff members have been affected to date,” Dr Broome said, “a 97 per cent increase above the number normally reported for the month of February.”
“NSW Health has notified the directors of NSW early childhood education services to an increase in viral gastroenteritis outbreaks and since then there have been further notifications of gastroenteritis outbreaks across the sector,” he said.
Dr Broome warned that viral gastroenteritis was highly infectious, with infection spread through contact with the vomit or stool (faeces) of an infected person.
The Executive Director said contact could occur when cleaning up bodily fluids, during person-to-person contact, sharing of contaminated objects and occasionally inhaling airborne particles when people vomited.
“Viral gastroenteritis symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, fever, abdominal pain, headache and muscle aches,” he said.
“They can take up to three days to develop and usually last between one or two days, and sometimes longer.”
Dr Broome advised parents and carers to keep children experiencing gastroenteritis home from childcare services and school.
He said they should wash their own hands thoroughly and regularly with soap and running water; thoroughly clean contaminated surfaces with hot, soapy water and a household disinfectant; immediately remove and wash clothing or linen that may be contaminated; and wear gloves and a mask when cleaning up bodily fluids.
Dr Broome reminded householders that alcohol hand sanitiser was generally less effective than soap and water for cleaning hands, but could be used if they were not available.
