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ECRU Sector Support
Gastroenteritis Warning
The Western Australia Department of Health is warning parents and guardians to be aware of gastroenteritis and reminding education and care services to contact their local Public Health Unit when gastroenteritis outbreaks occur.
The warning follows a sustained increase in cryptosporidiosis cases in Western Australia, with most cases occurring in metropolitan Perth.
Cryptosporidiosis is largely due to person-to-person transmission and most cases occur in young children and their parents. Cryptosporidiosis can also be spread through water and outbreaks are sometimes linked to swimming pools. Many gastroenteritis outbreaks in education and care services are also due to norovirus, which is mainly spread from person-to-person.
Look out for signs of gastroenteritis:
- Vomiting or nausea
- Diarrhoea
- Stomach cramps
- Fever
- Tiredness/lethargy.
The most effective measures to prevent gastroenteritis outbreaks are to inform parents and staff that children and staff with diarrhoea and/or vomiting should stay at home until 48 hours after their symptoms have stopped and to clean and disinfect contaminated environments.
When there is a gastroenteritis outbreak in your service it is recommended to do the following:
- Provide information to parents and staff about gastroenteritis.
- Advise children and staff with diarrhoea and/or vomiting to stay home from school until 48 hours after these symptoms have stopped
- Advise children and staff with diarrhoea to avoid swimming pools until two weeks after the diarrhoea has stopped completely.
- Display a notice at the front desk advising parents and staff about gastroenteritis and the exclusion requirements for ill children/staff.
- Increase handwashing and ensure there is sufficient soap in toilet areas. Alcohol hand gels are not as effective as soap and water in killing viruses that cause gastroenteritis. However, if hand-washing facilities are not available use an alcohol-based hand rub.
- Increase cleaning and disinfection practices and ensure that cleaning and disinfection protocols are up to date.
- Separate ill children from others until they are collected by a parent/guardian.
Please share this information with staff and the families of children attending your services and review these resources:
