PHARMACISTS should encourage people in NSW to stay on alert for symptoms of gastroenteritis, with testing and hospital data showing a significant rise in cases in recent weeks across the state.
Rotavirus is one common cause of viral gastroenteritis and can be severe in young children.
The latest testing data from NSW Health shows rotavirus notifications are at some of their highest levels of the last decade.
In the first two weeks of this year, 197 cases of rotavirus were identified, compared with about 40 cases during the same period usually.
Director of NSW Health's One Health branch Keira Glasgow said reducing the spread of gastro before schools returned in the next few weeks is important.
"Last week, there were more than 2,250 presentations to NSW emergency departments with symptoms of gastroenteritis.
"Presentations were particularly high in children under five years old, and in children aged five to 16 years old," Glasgow said.
"The message to the community is clear - simple measures can help stop the spread of gastro.
"Maintaining good hand hygiene and keeping children at home when they are unwell will give us a good chance to slow the spread before Feb, when children will all be back together at school."
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