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Y-Kids virus confirmed
Tuesday, November 20, 2012 • Marino Harker-Smith
CASES of rotavirus have been confirmed following an outbreak of diarrhoea and vomiting at the Y-Kids City daycare in Gisborne.

The Roebuck Road early childhood education centre based at the YMCA was open again on Friday morning following a voluntary 48-hour closure to clear the centre of infection.

Tairawhiti District Health Medical Officer of Health Geoff Cramp was still waiting on lab results testing for norovirus.

He said both viruses had similar symptoms and had been reported in the community recently.

About 60 percent of the 35 pre-schoolers and some staff were affected by the virus over the past three weeks.

YMCA Gisborne chief executive Leigh Gibson said she believed most early childhood education centres in the district had been affected to some degree, but Y-Kids City was the only one to take drastic action to clear the air.

“Everything is fine and infection-free now,” she said.

The Y-Kids gastro-bug outbreak follows norovirus outbreaks at two Gisborne retirement facilities earlier this month.

It highlighted the need for children or adults who were unwell, particularly with diarrhoea and vomiting, to remain away from work, school or early childhood education centres for two days after symptoms have stopped, said Dr Cramp.

“The key to preventing this illness is very strict hand hygiene — and to clean surfaces that may harbour the virus, things like door handles.

“Good ventilation of toilets and rooms where people are gathered is also important.”
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