Post-quake rate of serious stomach bugs increased 14-fold

The CTV building. Photo / NZ Herald

The rate of serious stomach bugs in Christchurch increased 14-fold in the month after the 2011 earthquake, a Canterbury University researcher has found.

Hazard and disaster management Masters student Sonali Weerasekara compared the prevalence of gastroenteritis in the 35 days after the quake, compared with the same time the previous year.

She found levels of gastroenteritis - caused by the likes of rotavirus, norovirus and campylobacter - increased by 14 times the usual level.

Her research looked at whether the large increase could be connected to liquefaction ground damage, infrastructure damage and the presence of gastroenteritis agents in the drinking water network.

She also analysed what had prevented gastroenteritis outbreaks at three emergency centres that offered drinking water, wastewater services, food, showers, social services and accommodation.

"Despite populations being exposed to potential sources like E coli, this did not translate into a gastroenteritis outbreak. This suggested that the implemented protocols may have successfully prevented such an outbreak," she said.

The protocols included prolific use of hand sanitisers and hygienic maintenance of the emergency centres.

"I think this presents a success story that we can learn from and really further refine what we know works well, especially the practical protocols that have been tested and tried in the context of a low frequency, high consequence disaster like an earthquake."

Ms Weerasekara has presented her results to emergency centre volunteering groups at Civil Defence.

She will also present her findings to a symposium, Researching the Health Implications of Seismic Events, in Christchurch next week.