A primary school struck down by a vomiting and diarrhoea bug has said the number of children affected is continuing to decrease.
An East Riding Council spokesman has confirmed on behalf of All Saints Church of England Infant School in Hessle the number of pupils and staff affected by the virus is continuing to go down.
Despite one parent claiming “hundreds” of pupils had been affected by the bug, the spokesman confirmed there were not as many children absent as a result of the virus - although could not confirm the exact number of poorly children.
Children first began becoming poorly last week when the virus first hit the school. No staff have had to take time off.
The spokesman for the council said: “The number of children affected by the virus was not in the hundreds.
“The school is taking advice from Public Health England and the number of children affected is continuing to go down.
“On Monday, some children were still absent from school due to the bug, but there was no staff absenteeism.”
On Monday, Public Health England said it was "aware a number of pupils at All Saints Church of England Infant School in Hessle have been affected by diarrhoea and vomiting symptoms consistent with a viral illness."
Dr Nicholas Aigbogun, consultant in communicable disease control at Public Health England Yorkshire and the Humber, said: "Many of the bugs which cause viral illnesses are highly infectious and very easily transmitted from one person to another.
"As a result, the illness spreads very easily, especially in semi-closed environments where large numbers of people congregate, such as schools.
"Public Health England has given the school appropriate advice on infection control measures and environmental cleaning to prevent the outbreak spreading further.
Signs and symptoms
"These sorts of gastroenteritis infections, while they can be very unpleasant, generally cause mild illness and are short-lived and there is no specific treatment, apart from letting the illness run its course."
The spokesman added that most people make a full recovery within one to two days and that drinking plenty of fluids is key to recovery.
"It is important to drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration," he said. "Especially in the very young or the elderly, and for anyone affected to stay away from school or work until 48 hours after symptoms have ceased.
"In the vast majority of cases, there is no additional benefit to visiting a GP or A&E department."
Public Health England has issued the following advice for anyone who is suffering with gastroenteritis-type symptoms, which include vomiting, which is often sudden, and "projectile" vomiting, diarrhoea and sometimes both.
Had any of these symptoms? Here's what you need to do
- Stay away from school or work until 48 hours after symptoms have ceased
- Follow good hygiene measures, including thorough hand-washing, particularly after visiting the toilet
- Drink plenty of fluids and rest to prevent dehydration
- Make sure that any surface contaminated by vomit or faeces is thoroughly disinfected after an episode of illness
- If symptoms worsen or persis for more than 48 hours, contact your family doctor or take advice from NHS 111
- Delay any visits to hospitals, care or nursing homes or schools until fully recovered and don't visit people who are especially vulnerable to infection, such as elderly relatives
- If visiting someone in hospital, even if you are well, obey the signs for hand washing before entering and leaving wards
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