Norovirus Spreads To Christchurch Coastal Waters

2 November 2007

Norovirus Spreads To Christchurch Coastal Waters

Christchurch City Council’s monitoring of potential sewage contaminants along the New Brighton coastline has detected norovirus in shellfish above the health safety limit. As a consequence, Dr Alistair Humphrey, Medical Officer of Health, advises that people should not collect or eat shellfish from anywhere between Scarborough and Waimari Beaches until further notice.

This advisory statement applies to the collecting and eating of all shellfish including scallops, tuatua, cockles, oysters, tuatua mussels, pipis, catseyes, pupu, kina and sea urchin. Crayfish, crabs, paua, and finfish can be eaten provided the gut is removed.

Norovirus is found in the faeces and vomit of infected people and individuals can be infected through direct contact with another person who is sick, through eating contaminated food (such as shellfish) or water, or touching surfaces and objects contaminated with the virus.

“Recent tests have confirmed that shellfish have become contaminated with
norovirus.” said Dr. Humphrey “Possible sources include infected individuals who
have been boating, swimming or surfing in the area, or the Avon or Heathcote rivers after heavy rainfall when these rivers are known to have been contaminated by sewage.”

The symptoms often begin suddenly and include vomiting, diarrhoea and stomachaches. People may also have a fever, chills, headache and muscle aches. The illness is usually brief, symptoms may persist for several days and may become lifethreatening in the young, the elderly, and the immune-compromised if dehydration is ignored or not treated.

Anyone who suffers from these symptoms should phone their General Practice for
medical advice. We ask that persons experiencing these symptoms:

1. Maintain scrupulous personal hygiene to prevent spread in your household
(WASH YOUR HANDS) and do not prepare food until 48 hours after
recovery.

2. Avoid public gatherings (including going to work) until 24 hours have passed
since the last symptom.

3. Do not use recreational water sources (including the sea), as viruses can
survive in the sea for long periods of time and are concentrated by filter
feeders like shellfish.

“Since most cases of norovirus are not recorded, it is difficult to say whether there is a real increase in norovirus in Christchurch at this time, but GPs are reporting seeing a lot tummy bugs at the moment, which will inevitably affect our local workforce,” said Dr. Humphrey. “What we know is that norovirus is highly contagious, is spread from person to person or from shellfish and that we can reduce the prevalence in our community by washing our hands carefully and avoiding shellfish from around Christchurch.”

Due to the potential risk at any time from microbiological contamination Community & Public Health recommends that no one ever collects or eats shellfish from any coast close to built up areas or anywhere close to stormwater, sewage discharges or popular recreational water bodies. Health Protection Officers from Community & Public Health provide signage in these places and regularly replace signs which are stolen or damaged. Vandalising or ignoring these signs can have serious health
consequences.

ENDS

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