According to the surveillance data compiled by the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC), last week’s number of outpatient visits for acute gastroenteritis remained high. As schools and work have resumed after the 228 holiday, public places such as restaurants, hospitals, healthcare institutions and schools are urged to reinforce the implementation of relevant infection control measures. The public is once again reminded to seek prompt medical attention when experiencing symptoms such as vomiting or diarrhea and rest at home while sick to prevent further transmission of the disease.

During Weeks 5 and 8, the numbers of people seeking healthcare for acute gastroenteritis respectively are 226,647, 241,504, 183,391, and 272,409. During the same period last year, the numbers of people seeking healthcare for acute gastroenteritis respectively are 185,002, 224,415, 212,764, and 223,314. At the moment, viral gastroenteritis outbreaks remain rampant. Most patients are children aged between 0 and 6. Thus far this year, a total of 26 viral gastroenteritis clusters have occurred. 18 of the clusters (69.2%), including a cluster that was caused by the co-infection of norovirus and salmonella, were caused by norovirus, 6 clusters (23.1%) were caused by the coinfection of norovirus and rotavirus, and 2 clusters (7.7%) were caused by rotavirus. In addition, most of the recent gastroenteritis clusters were caused by norovirus and rotavirus.

Gastroenteritis is highly contagious. Among the viruses that cause gastroenteritis, norovirus can affect people of all age, especially children under the age of 6. To prevent norovirus infection, wash your hands frequently with soap and water, especially after using the toilet and always before eating and preparing food; cook oysters and other shellfish thoroughly before consuming them; wash fruits and vegetables before preparing and eating them; refrigerate leftover foods; consume all perishable products as soon as possible; change bedding, clothing, and towels used by patients immediately; disinfect the environment and all surfaces used by patients with 1,000 ppm chorine solution; put on gloves and masks when handling patients’ excretions and disinfect the excretions with 5,000 ppm chorine solution before flushing them away; always wash hands thoroughly after handling patients’ excretions; and when experiencing relevant symptoms, especially food workers, seek immediate medical attention and rest at home, and only resume work 48 hours after symptoms are relieved.

The primary symptoms of viral gastroenteritis include watery diarrhea and vomiting. Other possible symptoms include headache, fever, abdominal cramps, stomach ache, nausea, and muscle aches. Moreover, norovirus infection can cause severe vomiting. Most infected individuals recover. However, infants, children, elderly and immuno-compromised people may experience severe dehydration, electrolyte loss and twitching after infection. As effective rotavirus vaccines are available in the market, individuals wishing to receive the vaccine and consult their physician for further evaluation. However, vaccines for norovirus and the majority of viruses that cause gastroenteritis are not currently available. Hence, Taiwan CDC reminds the public to wash hands frequently, maintain personal and environmental hygiene, consume only thoroughly cooked foods, and always use the serving utensils to take food when sharing food with others in order to ward off infection. If symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting or others that pertain to gastroenteritis, please seek prompt medical attention and rest at home. For more information, please visit the Taiwan CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov.tw or call the toll-free Communicable Disease Reporting and Consultation Hotline, 1922 (or 0800-001922).