In vulnerable settings like childcare centres and aged care facilities, gastroenteritis (‘gastro’) often spreads rapidly and can cause serious illness, especially in young children and older adults who are at higher risk of dehydration.
Reporting outbreaks helps to:
A Childcare Service is considered to have an outbreak if there are two or more cases of vomiting and/or diarrhoea occurring among children and/or staff within 48 hours of each other and the symptoms cannot be explained by medication or other medical conditions.
Gastro spreads very quickly among young children. If you have an outbreak:
Report all outbreaks as soon as possible when you suspect an outbreak is occurring.
Control measure can be found in the Department of Health’s Management of Gastroenteritis guidance for Children’s Centres, first steps may include:
Exclude unwell people:
Clean and disinfect:
Communicate:
A Residential Aged Care Facility is considered to have an outbreak if there are two or more cases of vomiting and/or diarrhoea among residents/patients and/or staff that cannot be explained by medication or other medical conditions within 72 hours, in a setting that makes epidemiological sense.
Gastro can be very serious for older adults. If you have an outbreak:
Report all outbreaks as soon as possible when you suspect an outbreak is occurring.
Control measures are found in the Department of Health’s Management of Gastroenteritis guidance for Care Facilities, first steps may include:
Isolate unwell residents and staff:
Enhanced cleaning:
Food safety:
Communication:
Depending on the setting, an outbreak is declared over when there are no new cases for a certain period of time.Usually, 48 hours after symptoms have ended in the last unwell person, the Public Health Officer or Environmental Health Officer assigned to the outbreak will be able to assist you on a stand down date for your outbreak.
To report an outbreak or for further information contact the Loddon Mallee Public Health Unit on 1800 959 400 (number available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week) or [email protected]
Or alternatively,
Contact your local council and ask for an Environmental Health Officer.
More information: