Gastro outbreak
A violent stomach bug is spreading across the Fraser Coast, infecting dozens of people in the past week.
The outbreak of gastroenteritis has inundated home doctors, and is putting a strain on the region’s hospitals.
House Call Doctor’s Assistant Clinical Director Dr Ryan Harvey said this particularly aggressive bug had been making people sick across the state.
He said it appeared to be a far more virulent strain than in previous years.
“It is worse than what we have seen and causing worse illness. A lot of people who might otherwise have had an upset stomach are experiencing severe gastro,” Dr Harvey said.
He said there had been reports of a 15% increase in the number of people with gastroenteritis being admitted to hospitals.
House Call Doctor figures for the Fraser Coast show on average up to 20% of daily cases have been gastro-related in the past few weeks, with more than 30 patients treated with severe symptoms in the past week alone.
Kawungan pensioner Anne is one of the scores of people to be struck down with severe vomiting and gastro.
The 71-year-old widow’s daughter Kelly Hanson said her mother had fallen so “violently ill” that she could not leave her home to see a doctor.
“She was in no fit state to drive so she rang [House Call Doctor], they turned up in just half an hour,” Ms Hanson said.
“He supplied her with everything she needed to get through the night so she could see her GP (the next day).”
Dr Harvey said the best thing people could do was maintain good hand hygiene.
Anyone experiencing symptoms should keep hydrated with small amounts of fluid regularly.
Original Source: Fraser Coast Chronicle | Annie Perets | 23rd Aug 2016
