18 July 2008

World Youth Day - Public Health Update

Acting Deputy Chief Health Officer for NSW Health, Dr Jeremy McAnulty has provided an update on public health investigations involving World Youth Day pilgrims in Sydney. Details follow:

Our Lady of Good Counsel School in Forestville
o Six pilgrims have been diagnosed with Influenza
o One of these pilgrims has tested positive for Influenza A
o One other pilgrim has tested positive for Influenza B

Thomas Moore School in Campbelltown
o 20 pilgrims have been diagnosed with Influenza
o Two of these people have tested positive to Influenza B

Our Lady of the Peace in Gladesville
o 12 pilgrims have been diagnosed with Influenza
o Three of these pilgrims have tested positive for Influenza A

Oakhill College at Castle Hill
o 70 pilgrims have been isolated with flu-like symptoms
o Eight people from this group have tested positive for Influenza B

Sydney Olympic Park at Homebush
o 11 pilgrims have been diagnosed with Influenza
o Three of these pilgrims have tested positive for Influenza B
o Two pilgrims have tested positive for Influenza A
o One pilgrim is also suspected to have chicken pox

St Therese's Primary School at Denistone
o Viral gastroenteritis has affected a group of 23 pilgrims

In relation to Influenza, Dr McAnulty said every year in NSW hundreds of thousands of people are diagnosed with influenza - around 10 per cent of the population can expect to get the flu over the winter months.

He said the best ways to avoid spreading or getting influenza include:
o Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough and sneeze
o Wash your hands regularly to reduce the spread of infection
o Minor illnesses can be treated by a GP - save the emergency department for emergencies
o Get a flu shot from your GP.

"People can take easy steps to reduce their risk to exposure and can help stop the spread of the disease if they have symptoms," Dr McAnulty said.

In relation to gastroenteritis Dr McAnulty said the viral gastro outbreak was not considered to be food related - it is highly infectious and is most often spread through direct contact with an infected person.

"We have urged infected people to stay isolated from others until they have completely recovered," Dr McAnulty said.

Symptoms for viral gastroenteritis can take between one and three days to develop and usually last between one and two days, sometimes longer.

NSW Health also confirmed that in the 24 hours to 9am today reporting showed a total of 79 WYD Pilgrims had attended emergency departments for treatment of illnesses and injuries.

This brings the number of people identifying as WYD Pilgrims attending emergency departments to 242 since reporting commenced on 9 July.

For further information on gastro, influenza and chickenpox please view the factsheets on the NSW Health website.

Next public health update will be issued at 3.00pm Friday July 18.

For a range of health information, go online to www.health.nsw.gov.au