Gastro outbreak hits Wanganui Collegiate students

Wanganui Collegiate School. Photo/ file

Students have been kept in isolation at Wanganui Collegiate School after a nasty gastro bug hit the premises.

Whanganui Public Health medical officer Patrick O'Connor said about 100 students had been unwell since Sunday, mainly with vomiting and some diarrhoea.

"We do not know the exact cause, but a virus is likely. Lab tests may give us answers by early next week," Mr O'Connor said.

He said viral gastroenteritis circulates in the community, especially in the winter months.

"It spreads most rapidly in settings such as rest homes and boarding schools where people live in close proximity," Mr O'Connor said.

A collegiate spokesman said extra cleaning has taken place to ensure a minimal amount of cross contamination.

"Extra hand sanitisers were placed throughout campus and a reminder of the importance of practising good hygiene through hand washing was given."

Headmaster Chris Moller sent out a precaution email notifying parents of the gastro outbreak.

Isolation areas have been set up in the boarding houses to minimise transmission and staff are continuing to observe over the next 24 hours.

Mr O'Connor has advised the school of a number of measures including isolation of cases, hand-washing, laundry, cleaning, and provision of food.

"The numbers of new cases have decreased each day, and we are aware of three new cases today," Mr O'Connor said.

The school said they were happy to report that the well-being of the majority of the students has returned to normal and only six students were still in an incubation period, on the advice of the WDHB Public Health Services.