SYDNEY, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- People in the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) are encouraged to stay on alert for symptoms of gastroenteritis, with testing and hospital data showing a significant rise in cases in recent weeks across the state.
Rotavirus is one common cause of viral gastroenteritis and can be particularly severe in young children. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, fever, abdominal pain, headache and muscle aches.
The NSW health authorities said on Wednesday that the latest testing data showed rotavirus notifications are at some of their highest levels of the last decade. A total of 197 cases of rotavirus were identified in the first two weeks of 2023, compared with about 40 cases during the same period usually.
Keira Glasgow, director of the NSW Health's branch One Health, said it is crucial to reduce the spread before schools return in the next few weeks.
"Last week, there were more than 2,250 presentations to NSW emergency departments with symptoms of gastroenteritis. Presentations were particularly high in children under five years old, and in children aged five to 16 years old," Glasgow said.
"The message to the community is clear, simple measures can help stop the spread of gastro. Maintaining good hand hygiene and keeping children at home when they are unwell will give us a good chance to slow the spread before February, when children will all be back together at school."
The health authorities warned that the viruses are spread from the vomit or stool (faeces) of an infected person. This can occur when cleaning up body fluids, during person-to-person contact, sharing of contaminated objects and occasionally inhaling airborne particles when people vomit.
Parents and caregivers are advised to keep children experiencing gastroenteritis at home from childcare services, vacation care and schools.
They are also urged to take precautionary measures, such as wearing gloves and a mask while cleaning up bodily fluids including vomit, and washing hands thoroughly and regularly with soap and running water, particularly after changing nappies.
The main treatment for viral gastroenteritis is to rest and drink plenty of fluids. Most people recover without complications, but more urgent care may need to be sought for infants or someone with suppressed immune systems, the health department suggested. ■
