A new strain of the virus that causes gastroenteritis (“gastro”) has been discovered in Victoria and health experts believe it could become an epidemic.
By analysing data from the past 14 years, researchers from Melbourne’s Doherty Institute have determined that this new strain is likely to cause an outbreak in the next 2 to 7 months. Dr. Catton of the Institute stated that "Noroviruses are so infectious that when a significant new strain emerges it tends to go global.”
The new strain is a “reshuffle of the genetic information of the virus”, meaning that most people would be susceptible to infection. The virus is yet to be officially named, but is provisionally entitled “Melbourne 2016”.
Sometimes referred to as “gastro” or “stomach flu”, viral gastroenteritis is an intestinal infection that causes diarrhea, vomiting, fever and abdominal cramps.
It can be caused by a number of different viruses including Rotavirus and Norovirus. The infection can also be caused by bacteria, toxins, parasites and some non-infectious diseases.
The virus is transmitted through contact with infected faeces or vomit, person-to-person contact, through contaminated food or water or through touching a contaminated surface.
While symptoms can be severe, viral gastroenteritis is usually a brief disease. Symptoms can take between one and three days to develop and for most people, vomiting and diarrhoea should subside after one or two days.
Viral gastroenteritis can affect everybody - however, the elderly, young and immuno-compromised are especially vulnerable to this new strain. For this reason, aged care facilities and child care centres are highly prone to the spread of the virus.
Gastroenteritis has no vaccine and those who have become immune to previous strains won’t necessarily be immune to “Melbourne 2016”.
To avoid contracting the virus, good hygiene practices are vital. The best way to avoid gastroenteritis is to wash your hands frequently with liquid soap and water. If possible, it helps to avoid places where gastro is likely to spread such as aged care facilities, child care centres and hospitals.
If you believe you may be affected with gastroenteritis you should seek medical advice if symptoms are serious. There are no specific treatments for Gastro except for resting and drinking plenty of fluids. After a few days, most people should recover without complications. It is important to remember that viral gastroenteritis can be seriously harmful to the young, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems.
People with vomiting or diarrhoea should:
People caring for those with gastroenteritis should wash their hands thoroughly after any contact with the sick person. Cleaning soiled surfaces and clothing reduces further spread of the virus.
When cleaning up vomit or faeces:
For further information on the effects of viral gastroenteritis refer to the NSW Government Health site.