The Health Bureau (SSM) yesterday announced another collective stomach flu case that broke out in a nursery in Taipa last week, an SSM statement said yesterday.
According to a statement, five children, three boys and two girls, aged between seven months and one year, from a nursery in Estrada Coronel Nicolau de Mesquita caught the stomach flu, scientifically known as gastroenteritis.
The statement noted that the children started to show stomach flu symptoms last Thursday.
According to the statement, based on an investigation, the bureau believes that the case was not related to food poisoning but caused by a virus. However, further testing would be required to determine the exact cause of the case, the statement said.
The statement noted that the norovirus and rotavirus are common causes of stomach flu, pointing out that they are usually active during the autumn and winter months. The statement stressed that the norovirus is highly contagious, especially in retirement homes and schools and through contaminated food or water. The statement noted that the norovirus has a 24 to 48 hour incubation period.
Furthermore, the statement underlined that the rotavirus is more common among children aged from six months to two years. The statement also said that the two viruses have similar symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach ache and fever, adding that the illness can last for up to five days.
The bureau urged people to be pay close attention to their personal hygiene and not to attend work or school if they have any stomach flu symptoms. The statement said that if there are any suspected multiple cases of stomach flu at a particular venue, please call 2870 0800.
