AN outbreak of viral gastroenteritis at the Mercy Care Centre in Young is now well controlled, according to the Director of Population Health with Greater Southern Area Health Service, Tony Kolbe.

Mr Kolbe said the Mercy Care Centre , which is a sub acute hospital, had halted admissions, transfers and discharges in line with recommended procedures to contain and control an outbreak.

“It is appropriate that those people remain in the facility until the outbreak has settled down,” he explained. Mr Kolbe said that as part of the process the movement of nurses and other staff within the facility had also been restricted .

Mercy Care Centre operations manager Frances Dalzell said staff providing in-patient care at Mercy Care Centre were restricted from providing services at Mt St Joseph’s Home until the outbreak had cleared.

She said staff were not working across the two facilities because management did not want viral gastroenteritis taking hold in the aged care facility.

Mr Kolbe warned that people could remain infectious up to 48 hours after symptoms had ceased. He has emphasised the important of good hygiene in efforts to contain any further spread.

“If people are unwell they should stay home from work, school and child care centres and they should not be involved in any food preparation for 48 hours,” he said.