BVI News

Health Ministry investigating increase in gastroenteritis locally

The British Virgin Islands is experiencing an increase in the level of gastroenteritis in the territory.

The Ministry of Health gave this pubic alert on Monday; explaining that gastro is an inflammation of the lining of the stomach and intestines. The condition is very contagious and can spread rapidly and easily from person to person.

“The Public Health Unit and the Environmental Health Division are currently investigating the cause in order to limit the spread,” the Health Ministry said.

As the ministry conducts its probe, persons who work in food handling, healthcare, or childcare are being advised not to attend work while they are ill and should not return to work until 72 hours after symptoms stop.

The ministry said persons infected with gastro are contagious from the moment they begin feeling ill to at least three days after recovery.

“The illness often begins suddenly, but is typically brief, with symptoms lasting one or two days. Most persons recover on their own. However, gastro can cause dehydration or depletion of fluid in the body. This is a serious complication and may be especially dangerous in young children, elderly and persons with an underlying health problem such as diabetes, epilepsy, inflammatory bowel disease and kidney disease,” it stated.

“If persons experience dehydration and symptoms last more than 72 hours or their symptoms worsen (e.g. blood in stool), this may be indicative of a more serious gastrointestinal infection and should contact their primary healthcare provider immediately,” the ministry added.

Gastroenteritis may be caused by viruses, bacteria or other microorganisms like parasites that can be transmitted through consumption of contaminated or undercooked food, drinking contaminated water, lack of hand hygiene or dirty hands, and airborne particles.

Persons who contract gastro can treat symptoms by drinking plenty of fluids, including water and use oral rehydration salts to prevent dehydration, the ministry said.

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15 Comments

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  1. Tooth&Claw says:

    This really shouldn’t be a surprise when we are all being forced to sterilize our hands everywhere we go. We are killing off all the good bacteria that prevent these sorts of infections. Public Health, where are you? Oh that’s right, you’re doing the bidding of your paymasters.

    Like 12
    Dislike 4
    • Jah says:

      Maybe it’s in the water. The old vaccines were flushed and it’s making people sick drinking the water.

      Drink beer

      Like 2
      Dislike 5
  2. Yessa says:

    The vaccine working now ….lol

    Like 6
    Dislike 1
  3. Lily ann says:

    stop eat from b****s

    Like 3
    Dislike 1
  4. Pasta bowl says:

    Got to be careful with some of them restaurants

  5. wow says:

    It gotta b dah darm vaccine

    Like 4
    Dislike 7
  6. tri party opposition says:

    The VIP got us hungry….The gas killing us

  7. ?? says:

    what’s the statistics and common denominator of the patients.

    Eaten at a particular restaurant or attended a function ??? ##

    Source of Water ????

    Fish ??? if so what’s the source? type of fish, supermarket purchased or local?

    Jab?

    etc etc etc.

    Give us some stats and the online jury will figure it out

  8. OHHH! says:

    So something healthwise and NOT COVID? WOW, we are making progress indeed.

  9. Side Effects says:

    All vaccinated,please report if you are having these side effects.We need the data.

  10. Poppa says:

    Man f**ting straight because we on a hungry belly lol.

  11. Reality Check says:

    I just read a study tying use of hand sanitizers to an increase in gastroenteritis as it kills all bacteria, good and bad

  12. WEW, Charmin says:

    Tortola trots.

  13. Serious issue says:

    Hospital is IL Equip to handle this illness,. Patients have to reluctantly go up to the purple building expensive as h**l… Minister get our hospital equipped..

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