Hunter New England Health has issued a warning, following a recent increase in gastroenteritis cases in childcare and aged care centres.
Experts say outbreaks occur seasonally and 11 institutions have been affected in the past month alone.
“Although the cause of most outbreaks in institutions is not diagnosed, all outbreaks occurring in institutions in the past month appear to have been caused by viruses that spread easily from person to person,” said Public Health Doctor Kathryn Taylor.
Dr Taylor says the illness is highly infectious and the best defence is washing your hands thoroughly before eating and after using the toilet.
Symptoms of gastro include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, fever, abdominal pain, headache, and muscle aches.
text will be replaced
