Welcome to Thursday’s Hawke’s Bay District Health Board Update, 25 August 2016
A total of five people are in Hawke’s Bay Hospital with campylobacter, two fewer than yesterday. This total includes one patient being cared for in the Intensive Care Unit, who has needed further intensive care for an unrelated medical issue.
The number of confirmed cases of campylobacter is now 196, with 378 probable cases, taking it to a total of 574. The latest household telephone survey conducted on 22 August indicates that more than 4,700 people, approximately one third of the 14,000 residents of Havelock North, have been affected by the outbreak. The number of people visiting pharmacies and GPs in relation to gastro illness is continuing to fall.
Information for people who have their own private bores is now available on the district health board website: http://www.ourhealthhb.nz/healthy-communities/public-health-warnings-and-alerts/havelock-north-gastro-outbreak-august-2016/
- There are two illnesses which occur in rare cases following infection with campylobacter.
One is reactive arthritis, which is painful but will usually respond well to anti-inflammatories and treatment from a GP. The other, which is rare, is Guillain Barrē syndrome - a neurological condition which hospital specialists are all trained and well equipped to treat should it arise. Information and reminders to be on the watch for these two illnesses has been sent to health professionals in Hawke’s Bay. - Extra surveillance is being carried out by health professionals for two other bugs that have a longer incubation time than campylobacter - cryptosporidium and giardia. The public will be informed of any signs of increased sickness.
GENERAL HEALTH ADVICE
- Diarrhoea increases the risk of the contraceptive pill failing. Women need to take extra contraception to prevent getting pregnant if they have diarrhoea.
- The district health board urges people to keep an eye out for people living on their own and older people.
