Australia struck by biggest gastro outbreak in more than 20 years - Sky News Australia

Australia’s gastro cases are on the rise as a parasite responsible for bringing about a particular disease spreads rapidly. 

Cryptosporidiosis, caused by a parasite called cryptosporidium, is a disease which brings about gastroenteritis symptoms including diarrhoea and vomiting.  

There have been a reported 11,747 cryptosporidiosis cases in 2024 so far – which is the highest number recorded by the National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System since the NNDSS began collecting data in 2001.

This figure dwarfes last year's 3,716 cases.

A quarter of cases this year have been found to be in children under the age of four.

The cryptosporidium parasite can be found in the faeces of humans as well as various farm, pet and native animals.

The disease be spread in ways such as person-to-person contact, consuming unpasteurised milk or dairy products, or swimming in or drinking contaminated water.

The most common symptoms of the disease are diarrhoea, fever, nausea and vomiting, first appearing anywhere from 1-12 days following infection.

The illness can ultimately last anywhere from days to weeks.

According to the NNDSS, Queensland has the most cases with 5,794 infections, followed by NSW with 2,855 cases, Victoria with 1,741 cases and the other states with well under 1,000 infections. 

The warmer climate is believed to be the reason as many resort to swimming to battle the heat.

According to Royal Australian College of General Practitioners Queensland deputy chair Dr Aileen Traves, there is no treatment for the disease except resting and staying hydrated.

“The main thing we need people to do is to prevent spreading it," she told the Sydney Morning Herald.

The NSW Health website advises residents on how to avoid catching the parasite through ways such as washing their hands well with soap and water after every time they use the toilet or touch animals or manure.

It further suggests not drinking untreated water, swallowing water when swimming, or eating or drinking unpasteurised milk or dairy products. 

Individuals who contract the disease should not swim or share towels for at least two weeks until after their diarrhoea has stopped.

They should also avoid touching or sharing food that others may eat until at least 48 hours after this symptom has stopped.

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi1QFodHRwczovL3d3dy5za3luZXdzLmNvbS5hdS9saWZlc3R5bGUvaGVhbHRoL2F1c3RyYWxpYS1iYXR0bGVzLWJpZ2dlc3QtZ2FzdHJvLW91dGJyZWFrLWluLW1vcmUtdGhhbi0yMC15ZWFycy1hcy1wYXJhc2l0ZS1yZXNwb25zaWJsZS1mb3ItY3J5cHRvc3BvcmlkaW9zaXMtc3ByZWFkcy1yYXBpZGx5L25ld3Mtc3RvcnkvYjM4MDNiZTlkMjc2MzNmY2RkMGNlZjYwNjUwMTk3OWLSAdkBaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2t5bmV3cy5jb20uYXUvbGlmZXN0eWxlL2hlYWx0aC9hdXN0cmFsaWEtYmF0dGxlcy1iaWdnZXN0LWdhc3Ryby1vdXRicmVhay1pbi1tb3JlLXRoYW4tMjAteWVhcnMtYXMtcGFyYXNpdGUtcmVzcG9uc2libGUtZm9yLWNyeXB0b3Nwb3JpZGlvc2lzLXNwcmVhZHMtcmFwaWRseS9uZXdzLXN0b3J5L2IzODAzYmU5ZDI3NjMzZmNkZDBjZWY2MDY1MDE5NzliP2FtcA?oc=5

2024-07-08 10:49:53Z
CBMi1QFodHRwczovL3d3dy5za3luZXdzLmNvbS5hdS9saWZlc3R5bGUvaGVhbHRoL2F1c3RyYWxpYS1iYXR0bGVzLWJpZ2dlc3QtZ2FzdHJvLW91dGJyZWFrLWluLW1vcmUtdGhhbi0yMC15ZWFycy1hcy1wYXJhc2l0ZS1yZXNwb25zaWJsZS1mb3ItY3J5cHRvc3BvcmlkaW9zaXMtc3ByZWFkcy1yYXBpZGx5L25ld3Mtc3RvcnkvYjM4MDNiZTlkMjc2MzNmY2RkMGNlZjYwNjUwMTk3OWLSAdkBaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2t5bmV3cy5jb20uYXUvbGlmZXN0eWxlL2hlYWx0aC9hdXN0cmFsaWEtYmF0dGxlcy1iaWdnZXN0LWdhc3Ryby1vdXRicmVhay1pbi1tb3JlLXRoYW4tMjAteWVhcnMtYXMtcGFyYXNpdGUtcmVzcG9uc2libGUtZm9yLWNyeXB0b3Nwb3JpZGlvc2lzLXNwcmVhZHMtcmFwaWRseS9uZXdzLXN0b3J5L2IzODAzYmU5ZDI3NjMzZmNkZDBjZWY2MDY1MDE5NzliP2FtcA

Bagikan Berita Ini