UPDATE Gastro illness in Havelock North Tuesday 5pm 16th August
The health system in Hawke’s Bay is coping well with the current outbreak of gastric illness.
The two patients in Intensive Care are recovering, with one now in a stable condition and moved to a general ward, the other remains critical but stable in Intensive Care. Numbers admitted to hospital have reduced with 17 patients now admitted, including the one in Intensive Care.
General Practices have had a very busy day with 231 patients seen today by a doctor.
In total there are now 62 confirmed and 129 probable cases of campylobacter now reported.
With the amount of illness still present in the population Hawke’s Bay District Health Board’s Medical Officer of Health Nick Jones is urging people to be extremely vigilant about washing hands. Hands need to be washed thoroughly by using plenty of soap, cleaning under fingernails, rinsing hands well and drying on a clean towel:
• before and after preparing food
• after going to the toilet or changing a baby’s nappy
• after caring for people with campylobacter
• after playing or working with animals
Dr Jones said anyone who worked in the food industry and was sick should not return to work for 48 hours after they were symptom free.
“The district health board’s public health team is conducting a phone survey of residents in Havelock North so we have a better idea of how many people and families have been affected, and what additional help they might need.
“Extra support from district nurses has also been provided to rest homes in the area who are reporting increased illness.”
Hastings District Council confirmed today that the bug found in the water was campylobacter, but the boil notice will remain in place until authorities are confident there is no other bug resistant to chlorination in the water.
Campylobacter can’t be spread through the air but it can be spread if you swallow the bacteria. This may be from contaminated water and food, or from contact with infected people, so hand washing is extremely important.
Dr Jones again encouraged people to check on people living alone especially older people to make sure they were ok. Gastroenteritis bugs like campylobacter affected older and younger people much more severely and older people needed to seek medical help early on if they weren’t getting better or couldn’t keep fluids down. The same applied to young children. Healthline was available 24/7 for advice 0800 611 116, from a registered nurse.
Symptoms of the illness being reported were diarrhoea and influenza like symptoms; headaches, muscle pain, fever and feeling generally unwell. Symptoms could last up to 10 days but would usually get better without antibiotics.
Children and older people were most at risk of dehydration and fluids, while the diarrhoea lasted, was very important. More information is available from http://www.ourhealthhb.nz/assets/News-and-Event-files/HE1211-Campylobacter-WEB.pdf
People could also call Healthline on 0800 611 116 for advice 24/7 from a trained registered nurse.
For information on the water supply contact Hastings District Council call 06 871 5000.
