Gastroenteritis Precautions

The Public Health Department advises that gastroenteritis cases are still being reported and asks the public to continue practising good hygiene, especially with regard to frequency of hand washing.

Gastroenteritis is an inflammation of the stomach and of the small and large intestines, caused by a variety of viruses or bacteria. Usually, Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe gastroenteritis in infants and young children, especially during winter months. In Cayman the outbreak seems to be a seasonal occurrence, says Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kiran Kumar, noting that 163 cases were reported in January of last year.

Persons contract the germs by consuming contaminated foods and/or water, or by breathing contaminated air. A lack of adequate hygiene, especially after using the toilet, can also enable transmission through close contact with infected persons.

To stem the outbreak of diarrhoeal disease, the Public Health Department has issued these guidelines:

• Healthy persons should stay away from those who are ill.
• Sick children should be kept away from schools or nurseries for one week from onset of first symptoms
• Good personal hygiene must be maintained, especially after using the toilet.
• Anyone who attends to a sick person should wash his or her hands with soap and water and, if possible, antiseptics such as Dettol or Savlon.
• Control flies by ensuring sanitary premises, including proper collection and disposal of garbage.
• Drinking water must be safe; use desalinated, bottled or boiled water.
• Disinfect cisterns by adding 2½ ounces of bleach for each 1,000 gallons of water in the cistern.
• Soiled disposable diapers of affected children should be placed in a garbage bag and securely tied. The bag should then be placed into a covered container for collection.
• Toilets should be disinfected after use, so that other persons will not contract the illness.

For further information, call the Public Health Department on 244-2630 or 244-2621, or Faith Hospital on 948-2243. For assistance with cisterns, call the Department of Environmental Health on 949-6696 in Grand Cayman or 948-2321 on the Brac.