Illawarra childcare centres are among more than 150 centres in NSW which have reported gastro outbreaks this month, prompting a statewide health alert.
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Parents and carers are being urged to keep young children at home if they are sick due to the number of outbreaks, which is significantly higher than usual.
NSW Health Executive Director of Health Protection Dr Richard Broome said 156 outbreaks of gastroenteritis in early childhood education centres had been reported.
The Illawarra Local Health District said there had been 12 reported locally.
Statewide, almost 1000 children and more than 210 staff members have been affected, Dr Broome said, which was a 97 per cent increase above normal February numbers.
"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.
Viral gastroenteritis is highly infectious and can spread rapidly in childcare centres, he said.
Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, fever, abdominal pain, headache and muscle aches.
They can take up to three days to develop and usually last between one or two days, and sometimes longer.
Advice for parents and caregivers includes:
- Keep children experiencing gastroenteritis home from childcare services and school. Children should not return until 48 hours have passed since their last symptom.
- Wash your hands thoroughly and regularly with soap and running water, particularly after changing nappies, assisting someone with diarrhoea and/or vomiting and before preparing food. Alcohol hand sanitiser is generally less effective than soap and water but can be used if these are not available.
- Immediately and thoroughly clean contaminated surfaces with hot, soapy water and then disinfect the area using a household disinfectant. If possible, disinfect with a freshly made sodium hypochlorite (bleach) solution, prepared according to manufacturer's instructions.
- Immediately remove and wash clothing or linen that may be contaminated with stool or vomit (use hot water and detergent).
- Wear gloves and a mask when cleaning up bodily fluids, including vomit.
The main treatment for viral gastroenteritis is to rest and drink plenty of fluids.
Most people recover without complications but it can be serious for infants, people with suppressed immune systems, and the elderly.
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