The Ministry of Health and Human Services (MoHHS) is reporting an outbreak of gastroenteritis in the capital Grand Turk.
A number of school-aged children from various schools, along with their close contacts have been affected. The Ministry of Education has been apprised of the situation, and the MoHHS is working closely with its education partners to mitigate further spread.
The public health team has been actively responding since initial reports and, to date, has done a number of inspections and provided advice.
Gastroenteritis (GE), which causes diarrhoea and or vomiting, can be triggered by viral or bacterial infections resulting in inflammation of the stomach and intestines. These infections can spread easily from person to person by direct contact, contact with contaminated food or water, or contact with contaminated surfaces/objects.
Some people (usually the very young or elderly) are very vulnerable and may require hospital admission due to dehydration. It is, therefore, essential to drink plenty of fluids during the illness to avoid dehydration.
Gastroenteritis can commonly occur in school and nursery settings and may be caused by viruses such as norovirus or, more rarely, by food poisoning. Symptoms commonly include:
· vomiting (often sudden in onset)
· diarrhoea
· both diarrhoea and vomiting
· tiredness
· fever
· nausea (feeling sick)
· aching muscles
· stomach pain
· headache
Symptoms may begin one to two days after infection and typically resolve in one to three days.
It is advised that practising proper hand hygiene at all times is essential to prevent the spread of GE and other communicable diseases. Children should be supervised and encouraged to wash their hands before eating, drinking, and after using the toilet.
Hand washing with liquid soap and warm water should be done frequently for at least 20 seconds. Paper towels should be used for drying hands, and a wastepaper bin should be provided for disposal.
Persons looking after ill loved ones should pay particular attention to proper hand hygiene to prevent getting sick.
Alcohol gel can be used in addition to soap and water. Handle and prepare food safely. Before preparing and eating your food, carefully wash fruits and vegetables well. It also advised that the spreading can be curtailed when kitchen utensils, cutting boards, counters, and surfaces are routinely clean and sanitised.
Proper cleaning and disinfection, particularly of frequently touched surfaces should be done regularly. Surfaces and touch points (taps, toilet flush handles, door handles, light switches) should be cleaned and disinfected with a bleach-based cleaner.
It is also advised that detergents and bleach solutions should be used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions to clean these surfaces regularly.
It is recommended that if you or your child is sick, should not go to school/work and not return until at least 48 hours after the symptoms have resolved without medication.
It is also recommended that one should ensure that you or your child is properly hydrated. Avoid dehydration by offering an oral rehydration solution gradually.
Seek medical attention if your child:
· Becomes unusually drowsy
· Vomits frequently or vomits blood
· Has bloody diarrhoea
· Shows signs of dehydration, such as dry mouth and skin, marked thirst, sunken eyes, or crying without tears. In an infant, be alert to the soft spot on the top of the head becoming sunken and to diapers that remain dry for more than three hours
· Is an infant and has a fever
· Is older than three months of age and has a fever of 102 Fahrenheit (39 degrees Celsius) or more
The Ministry of Health and Human Services said it will continue to heighten surveillance for gastroenteritis and take necessary actions to mitigate against further cases.
For additional information, please call 649-338-5469 or visit the Ministry of Health and Human Services Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/tciministryofhealth/.
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