BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) — The Ministry of Health in Barbados said it is investigating 35 suspected cases of gastroenteritis on the island’s south coast.

Acting Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr Kenneth George said the majority of cases occurred over Christmas and Old Year’s, with the last case reported on January 3.

“So far, investigations suggest that the cause of the outbreak is likely to be viral in nature.

While epidemiological investigations are continuing, no organisms have been identified through laboratory testing. In addition, the outbreak has not been linked to any particular food or beverage,” George revealed.

According to the Chief Medical Officer, the incubation period for viral gastroenteritis was very short and the symptoms, mainly vomiting and diarrhoea, tended to be more short-lived than bacterial diseases. Persons contracting the illness are advised to make sure they are well hydrated.

He appealed to private doctors to report all cases of suspected gastroenteritis to the ministry.

Meanwhile, Chief Environmental Health Officer, Francina Bascombe, on Tuesday said that the Environmental Health Department has increased the number of officers assigned to the area impacted by the sewage problems to 15.

Senior Medical Officer of Health, Dr Leslie Rollock, identified the primary public health concerns as the risk of infection if contaminated water is ingested directly or indirectly, noxious smells and mosquito breeding.

“The risk for gastroenteritis from the contaminated water comes from ingestion which most likely would be inadvertent. Persons should repeatedly practice hand hygiene, frequently washing for at least 20 seconds with soap and water, or with an alcohol-based sanitiser,” she advised.

In relation to mosquito control, she said the ministry was treating identified areas of standing water with a larvicidal chemical as well as continuous fogging to destroy adult mosquitoes.

Rollock assured the public that potable water from the taps was not connected to the sewage network and repeated tests had confirmed that tap water remained unaffected.