So far, centres in Cumberland seem to have escaped the debilitating illness, with Kids on Regent at Regents Park, Lidcombe Preschool and Pinnacle Early Education at Berala staff describing themselves as lucky.
Kids on Regent staffer Rosa said they were thankful of having “really good parents”.
“Our parents always follow public health orders and would not hesitate to keep their child at home if they were unwell,” she said.
“We are very grateful for that.”
NSW Health Executive Director of Health Protection Dr Richard Broome said 156 outbreaks of gastroenteritis in early childhood education centres were reported in NSW in February.
“Almost 1,000 children and more than 210 staff members have been affected, a 97 per cent increase above the number normally reported for February,” Dr Broome said.
Viral gastroenteritis is highly infectious and spreads from the vomit or stool (faeces) of an infected person.
This can occur when cleaning up body fluids, during person-to-person contact, sharing of contaminated objects and occasionally inhaling airborne particles when people vomit.
Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, fever, abdominal pain, headache and muscle aches.
Advice for parents and caregivers includes:
• Children should not return until 48 hours have passed since their last symptom.
• Wash your hands thoroughly and regularly with soap and running water, particularly after changing nappies, assisting someone with diarrhoea and/or vomiting and before preparing food.
• Wear gloves and a mask when cleaning up bodily fluids, including vomit.
• The main treatment is to rest and drink plenty of fluids.
Gastro outbreak at childcare centres alert
HUNDREDS of children and staff have been struck down with stomach bugs, with parents urged to keep children at home in the wake of gastroenteritis outbreaks in childcare being reported to NSW Health.