How do I recognise an outbreak of viral gastroenteritis?
Sporadic cases of gastrointestinal illness are not unusual and can arise from changes of diet or various pathological causes. Potential food-borne disease outbreaks and the Small Round Structured Virus (SRSV) outbreaks are often recognised because an unusual number of people are ill at the same time, and in association with the same place. If your staff note an unusual number of residents showing gastrointestinal symptoms, they should determine how many individuals are affected, when the illness commenced, what symptoms were involved and the name of anyone taken to hospital. Although the law requires any medical practitioner attending a patient to notify Northampton Borough Council of any case, or suspected case, of food poisoning it is prudent for a manager also to notify any cases to the council’s Regulatory Services. Notification by a manager is appropriate if a number of guests are suffering from gastrointestinal illness, or previous residents contact the home to allege gastrointes
