Gastro outbreak sends more than 1,000 to the emergency room

A huge gastro outbreak has left more than 1,000 people admitted to an emergency ward.

Hospitals in the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, were flooded with 1142 patients with gastroenteritis.

Around 600 cases were treated at the Sunshine Coast University Hospital.

Terrible gastro outbreak sends more than 1,000 people to the emergency ward in Queensland 

'If you have gastroenteritis, you should not return to work until diarrhoea has ceased. Children should not return to childcare or school until diarrhoea has ceased for 24 hours,' said Andrew Dr Langley (pictured)

‘If you have gastroenteritis, you should not return to work until diarrhoea has ceased. Children should not return to childcare or school until diarrhoea has ceased for 24 hours,’ said Andrew Dr Langley (pictured)

Gastroenteritis can be either infectious or non-infectious, public health physician said, Dr Andrew Langley, reported The Sunshine Coast Daily.

He said, usually bacteria, parasites and viruses are the cause of infectious cases.

‘Noroviruses are a very common cases of viral gastroenteritis. Causes of norovirus are not routinely reported to Queensland Health,’ Dr Langley said.

‘If you have gastroenteritis, you should not return to work until diarrhoea has ceased. Children should not return to childcare or school until diarrhoea has ceased for 24 hours,’ said Dr Langley.

Last month, a gastro outbreak has forced Mt Maria College in Brisbane to close after 20 students and two teachers were sent to hospital with vomiting and diarrhoea.

Last year nearly 2000 people admitted themselves to hospitals across Sydney.

Gastroenteritis can be easily passed from person to person due to its highly infectious nature.

Hospitals in Sunshine Coast, Queensland were flooded with 1142 patients with gastroenteritis. 600 of the cases were treated at the Sunshine Coast University Hospital (pictured)

Hospitals in Sunshine Coast, Queensland were flooded with 1142 patients with gastroenteritis. 600 of the cases were treated at the Sunshine Coast University Hospital (pictured)

Gastroenteritis can be either infectious or non-infectious, public health physician said, Dr Andrew Langley, reported The Sunshine Coast Daily

Gastroenteritis can be either infectious or non-infectious, public health physician said, Dr Andrew Langley, reported The Sunshine Coast Daily

Gastroenteritis spreads typically if food, objects, hands or surfaces are contaminated with vomit or faeces.

Then while eating, drinking or even touching the mouth, the infectious organism is transferred.

The ones who are at high-risk of dehydration are infants and the elderly.

 



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