Gastric Flu Advice

An increase is being seen in the number of outbreaks occurring in hotels, nurseries, residential and nursing homes associated with gastric flu and other viral outbreaks. |We have produced some easy to follow guidelines showing how hoteliers and care home managers should deal with gastric flu and viral outbreaks, together with some additional advice to help prevent or minimise the spread. This information can be used as a quick reference document to give practical advice in such situations.

In addition to the increase in gastric flu outbreaks in institutionalised settings, the growing ability of genes from the A, B and C flu virus strains to mutate and mix can result in an influenza virus containing genes from a number of sources, called a "reassortant" *virus. So for example, although swine influenza viruses are normally species specific and only infect pigs, they now appear to have acquired the ability to sometimes cross the species barrier to cause disease in humans.

What should I do if I think I have gastric flu?

• Report the incident to the |Environmental Health & Licensing Division to enable us, where necessary, to investigate.
• See your doctor (G.P.) and provide a stool sample for medical advice or diagnosis of illness and treatment.

Further information:

• |Gastric flu guidelines
• |Health Protection Agency (information available under 'infectious diseases')
• |Guidelines for the Control of Infection and Communicable Disease in Nurseries and other Institutional Early Years Settings in South West London (Health Protection Agency document).
• Contact the |Environmental Health & Licensing Division

* Dictionary definition of reassortant: "A virus with gene segments derived from more than one virus, achieved by co-infection of a single cell by these viruses".