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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (December 8) reminded the public and management of elderly homes, to maintain strict personal and environmental hygiene to prevent acute gastroenteritis caused by norovirus infection.
The CHP made the appeal in view of the recent increase in the number of outbreaks of the disease.
A CHP spokesman said nine confirmed institutional norovirus outbreaks affecting a total of 102 people had been reported in the past two weeks. Most of the outbreaks occurred in elderly homes.
"This showed an apparent increase when compared with an average of one to two institutional outbreak(s) per week between September and November this year.
"Moreover, CHP's sentinel surveillance systems based at elderly homes for acute diarrhoea also indicated an upsurge in the past week," he said.
The number of acute diarrhoea cases increased fourfold from 0.14 per 1,000 resident-days in the week ending November 25 to 0.55 per 1,000 resident-days last week, the spokesman added.
Staff of the CHP conducted field visits to the elderly homes concerned. Health instructions concerning proper disinfection, proper disposal of vomit and faeces, as well as personal and food hygiene, were given to the staff of these institutions.
The spokesman stressed that with the approaching winter season, which was historically the peak season for viral gastroenteritis caused by norovirus, personal, food and environmental hygiene were of paramount importance in preventing norovirus infection.
"Staff of the elderly homes were reminded to be on the lookout for symptoms of viral gastroenteritis among residents and report any suspected outbreaks to the CHP.
"We will closely monitor the situation to prevent the spread of norovirus infection in these institutions," the spokesman said.
Viral gastroenteritis caused by norovirus is usually self-limiting with symptoms of nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, low-grade fever and malaise. The symptoms may last for 24 to 48 hours.
To prevent viral gastroenteritis infection, people should observe the following precautions:
* Wash hands thoroughly before handling food and eating and after using toilet or handling vomit or faecal matter;
* Wear gloves when disposing of vomit and faeces and wash hands afterwards;
* Clean and disinfect contaminated areas and items promptly and thoroughly with household bleach diluted in a ratio of 1 in 49 units of water; maintain good indoor ventilation;
* Make sure that food, particularly seafood and shellfish, is cooked thoroughly.
For more information on the disease, members of the public may visit the CHP's website (http://www.chp.gov.hk) or call the Central Health Education Hotline 2833 0111.
Ends/Friday, December 8, 2006
Issued at HKT 18:14
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