The Health Bureau (SSM) announced in a statement yesterday that a case of collective gastroenteritis (colloquially known as stomach flu) was recorded involving four children in a nursery.
According to the statement, the case involved four children from the Macau Women’s General Association’s Second Nursery on Rua Marginal do Lam Mau. The statement noted that three boys and one girl, aged between 15 to 17 months, came down with gastroenteritis.
The Women’s General Association of Macau is commonly known as Fu Luen in Cantonese.
The statement also said that the children started to feel unwell on Saturday, suffering from vomiting and diarrhoea over the weekend.
The statement pointed out that after investigation, the bureau concluded that none of the cases were related to food poisoning, adding that considering the time and symptoms, the bureau believed that the cause was a norovirus or rotavirus.
According to the statement, the norovirus and rotavirus are common causes of stomach flu that 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, stomachache 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 in case of collective stomach flu, people should contact 2870 0800.
