2008-12-29
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is closely monitoring the situation of viral gastroenteritis caused by rotavirus and norovirus, as Hong Kong enters the high season for the diseases which usually peak from December through February of the next year.
Controller of CHP, Dr Thomas Tsang today (December 29) stressed the importance of personal, food and environmental hygiene in preventing gastroenteritis outbreaks in institutional settings.
Dr Tsang said there was a rise of rotavirus and norovirus activities in December as reflected by the number of gastroenteritis outbreaks in institutions reported to the CHP.
"Twenty-one institutional outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis have been reported so far this month, compared with six outbreaks in November and four outbreaks in October.
"Seven out of the 21 outbreaks reported in December were confirmed to be due to norovirus and affecting 62 persons, while one outbreak affecting five persons were due to rotavirus," Dr Tsang said.
He noted that the consultation rate of acute diarrhoeal diseases among general practitioners was also increased this month.
"The latest consultation rate for acute diarrhoeal disease were 33.0 and 35.0 cases per 1000 consultations in the week ending December 20 and December 13 respectively, compared with 19.8 to 27.7 in the preceding four weeks," Dr Tsang said.
Meanwhile, a total of 75 norovirus gastroenteritis and 5 rotavirus outbreaks in institutions involving 677 persons and 39 persons respectively have been reported so far this year.
In 2007, there were a total of 107 norovirus outbreaks in institutions affecting 1211 persons and 6 rotavirus outbreaks in institutions affecting 46 persons.
Acute gastroenteritis caused by rotavirus and norovirus can be found in Hong Kong all year round but is more active in the winter months.
They are common cause for acute gastroenteritis outbreaks in institutions such as schools, kindergartens and child care centres.
"Rotavirus infection was characterised by vomiting and watery diarrhoea for a few days. Fever and abdominal pain are also frequently reported.
"For healthy persons, rotavirus gastroenteritis is a self-limited illness. However, it is occasionally associated with severe dehydration in young children. Immunity after infection is incomplete, but re-infections tend to be less severe than the original infection," Dr Tsang said.
Norovirus infections are usually mild and self-limiting. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, fever and malaise. The infection can spread through the consumption of contaminated food or direct contact with the vomitus or excreta of infected persons, he said.
Further to letters issued on November 21 and December 19, CHP today sent letter to the management of elderly homes, child care centres, schools, public and private hospitals reminding them to strengthen the preventive measures against norovirus and rotavirus activity.
To prevent these viral infections, members of the public are advised to
* wash hands thoroughly before handling food and eating and after using the toilet or handling vomitus or faeces matter;
* wear gloves when disposing of vomitus and faeces and wash their hands afterwards;
* clean and disinfect contaminated areas or items promptly and thoroughly with diluted household bleach 1 in 50;
* maintain good indoor ventilation; and
* make sure that food, particularly seafood and shellfish, is cooked thoroughly.
Members of the public can obtain more information on the prevention of viral gastroenteritis from CHP's website at http://www.chp.gov.hk or call the Central Health Education Unit Hotline, 2833 0111.
End/Monday, December 29, 2008