********************************************************
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 the following February.
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 people, while one outbreak affecting five people was due to rotavirus," Dr Tsang said.
He said that the consultation rate of acute diarrhoeal diseases among general practitioners also increased this month.
"The latest consultation rate for acute diarrhoeal disease was 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.
A total of 75 norovirus gastroenteritis and five rotavirus outbreaks in institutions involving 677 people and 39 people respectively have been reported so far this year.
In 2007, there were 107 norovirus outbreaks in institutions affecting 1211 people and six rotavirus outbreaks in institutions affecting 46 people.
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 is characterised by vomiting and watery diarrhoea for a few days. Fever and abdominal pain are also frequently reported.
"For healthy people, 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 people, he said.
Further to letters issued on November 21 and December 19, CHP today sent letters 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, people are advised to
* wash hands thoroughly before handling food and eating and after using the toilet or handling vomitus or faecal 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.
People 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.
Ends/Monday, December 29, 2008
Issued at HKT 18:56
NNNN
