*******************************************************
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is investigating an acute gastroenteritis outbreak involving 21 young children at a day nursery in Mong Kok today (October 20).
Initial investigations revealed that the affected children (eight male and 13 female aged from three to 22 months) developed symptoms of gastroenteritis including fever, vomiting and diarrhoea between October 15 and 18.
Sixteen of them sought medical consulted from private doctors or government out-patient clinics while four others were admitted to hospitals. All are in stable condition.
Staff of CHP has visited the institution and provided health advice to the management. Further investigation and medical surveillance are on-going.
To prevent contracting gastroenteritis, members of the public are advised to-
* Ensure proper personal hygiene;
* Wash hands thoroughly before eating and after using toilet or handling vomitus or faecal matter;
* Avoid food that is not thoroughly cooked.
Members of the public can obtain more information on the prevention of gastroenteritis from CHP's website (http://www.chp.gov.hk) or call the Central Health Education Unit hotline, 2833 0111.
Ends/Monday, October 20, 2008
Issued at HKT 19:56
NNNN
