30% rise in infectious gastroenteritis in North-East

An almost 30% increase in acute infectious gastroenteritis (AIG) cases has been observed in the North East in recent weeks and the Department of Public Health HSE North East (DPHNE) is asking the public to take extra precautions.

At-risk groups include people who work in food handling, healthcare workers, preschool/nursery staff, children under aged five years and older children/adults unable to implement good standards of personal hygiene.

To date in 2022, the Department of Public Health has been notified of 207 cases of AIG in the North East.

This is an increase from 162 cases in the same time period in 2021.

Symptoms may include a combination of diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and fever. Most episodes of AIG result in mild illness. However complications include prolonged symptoms, dehydration and hospitalisation.

Commenting on the increase, Dr Augustine Pereira, Director of Public Health in the North East said: “The increase in acute gastroenteritis infections is possibly due to the increased socialisation of people since COVID-19 restrictions have eased.”

She added that while COVID-19 cases are declining in the population at present “we are seeing an increased number of gastro-intestinal infections. Much like COVID-19, the risk of gastrointestinal infections can be dramatically reduced through good hand hygiene practices.”