The Health Bureau (SSM) announced on Wednesday and yesterday that three and eight nursery children respectively went down with gastroenteritis.
According to the statement, three children from the Women’s General Association of Macau nursery in Rua do Campo, two boys and a girl aged between one and two, started to show gastroenteritis (commonly known as stomach flu) symptoms, such as vomiting and diarrhoea, on Monday. The statement noted that they all went to see a doctor and none of them needed to be hospitalised.
Meanwhile, the statement said that eight children from Tung Sin Tong’s Third Nursery, six boys and two girls aged between two and three, started to show stomach flu symptoms on Tuesday.
The statement said that both cases were caused by bacteria, adding that the bureau still needed to further investigate the cases.
According to the statement, the norovirus and rotavirus are common causes of stomach flu, pointing out that they are usually active during the autumn and winter. 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 six months to two years. The statement also said that the two kinds of viruses have similar symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach ache and fever, adding that the illness could last for up to five days.
The bureau urged people to be more aware of personal hygiene and not to attend work or school if they have symptoms of stomach flu. The statement said that if there are any cases of collective stomach flu, please contact 2870 0800.
Image courtesy of Health Jade
