Gastroenteritis (also know as gastro) is a common and very contagious infection of the gut. It causes inflammation of the lining of your digestive system. Gastro usually causes a mild illness that involves vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach pains and nausea.
Gastro may be caused by:
- Viruses are the most common cause
- Bacteria such as salmonella/campylobacter
- Toxins produced by bacteria
- Parasites such as giardia & cryptosporidium
As we haven’t had a lot of rain, please be mindful that as the water levels in the tanks decrease, there is a potential risk of gastroenteritis. If your tank is running low, you may need to boil your drinking water. Boiling is the best way to kill disease-causing organisms, including viruses, bacteria, and parasites. The high temperature and time spent boiling (boil for at least 1 minute) are very important to effectively kill the organisms in the water.