The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is today (October 3) investigating two outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) involving a nursery school in Yau Tsim Mong and a kindergarten-cum-child care centre in Tai Po, and hence appealed to the public and management of institutions to maintain personal and environmental hygiene against AGE.
 
     The outbreak at the nursery school involves 12 boys and eight girls aged two to six. They presented with vomiting and diarrhoea since September 30. Eleven of them sought medical attention and none required hospitalisation.
 
     And the outbreak at the kindergarten-cum-child care centre involves 10 boys and 14 girls aged two to five. They presented with vomiting, diarrhoea and fever since September 26. Seventeen pupils sought medical attention while one of them required hospitalisation.
 
     All the pupils are currently in a stable condition. Investigations are ongoing.
 
     Officers of the CHP have conducted site visits and provided health advice to the staff of the nursery school and the kindergarten-cum-child care centre concerning proper and thorough disinfection, disposal of vomitus, and personal and environmental hygiene. The nursery school and the kindergarten-cum-child care centre have been put under medical surveillance.

     A spokesman for the CHP advised members of the public to take heed of the following preventive measures against gastroenteritis: 
 

• Ensure proper personal hygiene;
• Wash hands thoroughly before handling food and eating, after using the toilet or after changing diaper;
• Wear gloves when disposing of vomitus or faecal matter, and wash hands afterwards;
• Clean and disinfect contaminated areas or items promptly and thoroughly with diluted household bleach (by adding one part of bleach containing 5.25 per cent sodium hypochlorite to 49 parts of water). Wash hands thoroughly afterwards;
• Maintain good indoor ventilation;
• Pay attention to food hygiene;
• Use separate utensils to handle raw and cooked food;
• Avoid food that is not thoroughly cooked;
• Drink boiled water; and
• Do not patronise unlicensed food premises and food stalls.

 
     The public may visit the CHP's page on norovirus infection or call the DH's Health Education Hotline (2833 0111) for more information.

Ends/Monday, October 3, 2016
Issued at HKT 19:53

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