1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,960 Speaker 1: And another change of pace because we know that a 2 00:00:02,960 --> 00:00:05,640 Speaker 1: public health alert has been issued following a spike in 3 00:00:05,800 --> 00:00:10,400 Speaker 1: gastro cases across the Northern Territory. Now, typically cases rise 4 00:00:10,520 --> 00:00:14,000 Speaker 1: during the dry season. As with gastro, it's often introduced 5 00:00:14,000 --> 00:00:16,680 Speaker 1: from interstate or overseas visitors. Now joining me on the 6 00:00:16,720 --> 00:00:18,639 Speaker 1: line to tell us a little bit more about this 7 00:00:18,720 --> 00:00:22,880 Speaker 1: situation is Into Health Senior epidemiologist for the Center for 8 00:00:22,960 --> 00:00:25,280 Speaker 1: Disease Control, Anthony Draper. 9 00:00:25,440 --> 00:00:28,800 Speaker 2: Good morning, Anthony, welly, Katie, thanks for talking to me. 10 00:00:28,960 --> 00:00:31,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, thank you so much for your time. Now, Anthony, 11 00:00:31,520 --> 00:00:33,559 Speaker 1: how many cases of gastro. 12 00:00:33,360 --> 00:00:37,600 Speaker 2: Have we had? So in the dry season we often 13 00:00:37,600 --> 00:00:41,400 Speaker 2: get an increase in gastro or the winter vomiting bug. 14 00:00:42,320 --> 00:00:44,040 Speaker 2: So we've had anecdotal reports of a bit of that 15 00:00:44,159 --> 00:00:46,560 Speaker 2: going around the territory and it typically comes in during 16 00:00:46,640 --> 00:00:50,280 Speaker 2: the dry season when people start camping and traveling around 17 00:00:50,520 --> 00:00:52,320 Speaker 2: and people come in for the shows and they go 18 00:00:52,400 --> 00:00:53,760 Speaker 2: back to where they come from. So we see a 19 00:00:53,760 --> 00:00:55,480 Speaker 2: lot of it coming in this time of year typically 20 00:00:55,520 --> 00:00:58,760 Speaker 2: and on tourist buses. So it's characterized by a lot 21 00:00:58,760 --> 00:01:01,120 Speaker 2: of vomiting and you feel very crooked for maybe twelve 22 00:01:01,120 --> 00:01:03,840 Speaker 2: to twenty four hours, but then you bounce back. So 23 00:01:03,920 --> 00:01:06,000 Speaker 2: people like that more often than not don't go to 24 00:01:06,040 --> 00:01:09,120 Speaker 2: the doctor, so we don't actually get notifications, but we 25 00:01:09,200 --> 00:01:12,000 Speaker 2: expect that to happen this time of year. But on 26 00:01:12,080 --> 00:01:14,800 Speaker 2: another note, we've had another an increase in another type 27 00:01:14,800 --> 00:01:19,280 Speaker 2: of tummy bug called cryptospritiosis or crypto for short. So 28 00:01:19,280 --> 00:01:21,000 Speaker 2: so far this year we've had one hundred and fifty 29 00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:23,120 Speaker 2: one cases of that, which is almost double what we'd 30 00:01:23,360 --> 00:01:25,840 Speaker 2: normally expect to see over the last five years. 31 00:01:26,160 --> 00:01:29,520 Speaker 1: Oh, mate, makes my tummy churn just thinking about getting it. 32 00:01:29,560 --> 00:01:31,680 Speaker 1: Then when you have kids, My kids have gotten a 33 00:01:31,720 --> 00:01:33,440 Speaker 1: little bit old now, but I know when they are 34 00:01:33,440 --> 00:01:35,880 Speaker 1: in childcare, it seems as though you picked these things 35 00:01:35,959 --> 00:01:37,400 Speaker 1: up very regularly. 36 00:01:38,720 --> 00:01:41,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, so these sort of things ripped through childcare and 37 00:01:41,360 --> 00:01:44,399 Speaker 2: kids of that age because you know, when kids are smaller, 38 00:01:44,440 --> 00:01:47,000 Speaker 2: they don't necessarily wash their hands and you can't watch 39 00:01:47,040 --> 00:01:49,200 Speaker 2: them all the time, so God knows what they're doing 40 00:01:49,240 --> 00:01:52,600 Speaker 2: behind your back, you know. So between kids, these sort 41 00:01:52,600 --> 00:01:55,640 Speaker 2: of bugs spread quite easily, and you normally with cryptos 42 00:01:55,680 --> 00:01:57,760 Speaker 2: it's a funny one. So you get this sort of 43 00:01:57,800 --> 00:02:01,840 Speaker 2: explosive diarrhea, this watery diarrhea with pummy cramps, and the 44 00:02:01,920 --> 00:02:04,600 Speaker 2: kids often tend to start feeling a little bit better 45 00:02:04,800 --> 00:02:07,680 Speaker 2: after a week, and then this little second wave comes back. 46 00:02:07,760 --> 00:02:09,959 Speaker 2: So that's what often gets people to the doctor, is 47 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:11,799 Speaker 2: that they don't feel like they're getting better. And if 48 00:02:11,800 --> 00:02:13,480 Speaker 2: you've got a family of three or four kids and 49 00:02:13,760 --> 00:02:16,160 Speaker 2: mum and dad, you know, if this happens sort of 50 00:02:16,440 --> 00:02:18,600 Speaker 2: going from one kid to the next, your whole family 51 00:02:18,720 --> 00:02:20,919 Speaker 2: might seem like they've got gastro for sort of four 52 00:02:20,960 --> 00:02:23,080 Speaker 2: to five weeks while it slowly works its way through. 53 00:02:23,600 --> 00:02:25,679 Speaker 2: The best way you can stop it is you know 54 00:02:25,760 --> 00:02:27,880 Speaker 2: that old adage, wash your hands, so you wash your 55 00:02:27,880 --> 00:02:30,040 Speaker 2: hands after you go into the toilet, you wash your 56 00:02:30,040 --> 00:02:32,120 Speaker 2: hands before you eat, you wash your hands prepare before 57 00:02:32,120 --> 00:02:34,360 Speaker 2: you prepare food, and that goes a long way to 58 00:02:34,720 --> 00:02:38,600 Speaker 2: stopping yourself and other people getting sick. And the other 59 00:02:38,639 --> 00:02:41,080 Speaker 2: thing with crypto is that we ask people not to 60 00:02:41,120 --> 00:02:44,000 Speaker 2: go into swimming pools for at least two weeks after 61 00:02:44,040 --> 00:02:47,639 Speaker 2: their diarrhea because the crypto bug is often resistant to chlorine. 62 00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:49,960 Speaker 2: So you know, in backyard swimming pools and things like that, 63 00:02:50,320 --> 00:02:53,000 Speaker 2: it can you not get killed by the normal doses 64 00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:56,519 Speaker 2: of chlorine. But fortunately big swimming centers and public pools 65 00:02:56,520 --> 00:02:59,600 Speaker 2: and those sort of places. They usually do put extra 66 00:02:59,680 --> 00:03:01,480 Speaker 2: chlorine in the pool because they're aware of the sort 67 00:03:01,480 --> 00:03:03,520 Speaker 2: of risks of these sort of things. But we still 68 00:03:03,520 --> 00:03:05,880 Speaker 2: ask people not to go to public swimming pools for 69 00:03:05,919 --> 00:03:09,160 Speaker 2: a couple of weeks after their symptoms stop. 70 00:03:09,080 --> 00:03:12,680 Speaker 1: There, Anthony, at what point should people sort of seek 71 00:03:12,960 --> 00:03:13,800 Speaker 1: medical attention? 72 00:03:15,560 --> 00:03:19,560 Speaker 2: So with most diarrheal illnesses, unfortunately, the best way to 73 00:03:19,560 --> 00:03:21,200 Speaker 2: get rid of them is to sit on the toilet 74 00:03:21,200 --> 00:03:25,640 Speaker 2: and poo them out. But it's not much fun. But 75 00:03:25,960 --> 00:03:29,639 Speaker 2: you know, most things don't need antibiotics for gastro illnesses, 76 00:03:29,720 --> 00:03:33,800 Speaker 2: so it's about keeping your hydration up and looking after yourself. 77 00:03:34,080 --> 00:03:36,160 Speaker 2: But if you think that your diarrhe or your vomiting 78 00:03:36,200 --> 00:03:39,560 Speaker 2: is really severe, or you can't get fluid into your kids, 79 00:03:39,800 --> 00:03:42,480 Speaker 2: that's when you need to go to the doctor. Yes, 80 00:03:42,880 --> 00:03:44,440 Speaker 2: if you see blood in the stool, that's a good 81 00:03:44,440 --> 00:03:45,560 Speaker 2: idea to go and see the doctor. 82 00:03:45,800 --> 00:03:48,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, because I guess that's a difficult point, isn't it. 83 00:03:48,080 --> 00:03:50,640 Speaker 1: Like for the large majority of us, you know, you 84 00:03:50,680 --> 00:03:54,200 Speaker 1: get something like gastro or crypto and you can sort 85 00:03:54,200 --> 00:03:56,720 Speaker 1: of manage it. But sometimes with the young children or 86 00:03:56,760 --> 00:03:59,480 Speaker 1: with the you know, with people that are immune compromised 87 00:03:59,600 --> 00:04:02,440 Speaker 1: or that are elderlay. It can have a really big 88 00:04:02,480 --> 00:04:04,800 Speaker 1: impact on them, can't it. 89 00:04:04,800 --> 00:04:07,240 Speaker 2: It can. And you know, with most gastro diseases in 90 00:04:07,280 --> 00:04:09,680 Speaker 2: the Northern Territory, more than a half of the cases 91 00:04:09,680 --> 00:04:11,280 Speaker 2: are in kids under five. And I think that is 92 00:04:11,320 --> 00:04:13,560 Speaker 2: because you know, mums and dads do look after their 93 00:04:13,640 --> 00:04:15,840 Speaker 2: kids and they recognize when their kids aren't doing well, 94 00:04:15,880 --> 00:04:17,240 Speaker 2: and they do take them to the doctor and they 95 00:04:17,240 --> 00:04:20,080 Speaker 2: get a test. But if you don't go to the doctor, 96 00:04:20,120 --> 00:04:22,719 Speaker 2: like for you and I, Katie, like we're pretty stoic people, 97 00:04:23,320 --> 00:04:25,960 Speaker 2: all we ask is that you stay home until your 98 00:04:25,960 --> 00:04:27,159 Speaker 2: diary is better. 99 00:04:27,440 --> 00:04:29,599 Speaker 1: Yeah, hey, what advice have you got for people? I 100 00:04:29,600 --> 00:04:31,200 Speaker 1: mean you touched on it a little bit before, but 101 00:04:31,240 --> 00:04:33,400 Speaker 1: what advice have you got for people to try to 102 00:04:33,440 --> 00:04:35,760 Speaker 1: protect themselves. It's like your worst night, me, the whole 103 00:04:36,320 --> 00:04:39,000 Speaker 1: the whole family getting bloody gastro or crypto. 104 00:04:40,360 --> 00:04:43,320 Speaker 2: Yeah. So wash your hands, yep, that's the big one. 105 00:04:43,480 --> 00:04:45,640 Speaker 2: Wash your hands after you go to the toilet, Wash 106 00:04:45,640 --> 00:04:49,640 Speaker 2: your hands before you cook food, Wash your hands when 107 00:04:49,640 --> 00:04:52,719 Speaker 2: you're preparing food before you eat. And the other big 108 00:04:52,760 --> 00:04:55,400 Speaker 2: thing is, you know, if you are going to prepare food, 109 00:04:56,080 --> 00:04:57,680 Speaker 2: cook your food. So I might say things that are 110 00:04:57,720 --> 00:05:00,280 Speaker 2: a bit sacrilicious, but you know, I cook my chicken 111 00:05:00,360 --> 00:05:03,800 Speaker 2: until it's burnt. I cook my eggs very well. You 112 00:05:03,839 --> 00:05:05,960 Speaker 2: have to be very careful in the kitchen, so don't 113 00:05:06,120 --> 00:05:09,000 Speaker 2: cut raw meats and things where you're going to prepare salads. 114 00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:12,400 Speaker 2: There's a risk of cross contamination in the kitchen. Keep 115 00:05:12,440 --> 00:05:15,320 Speaker 2: cold things cold, cook hot things till they're hot, and 116 00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:16,640 Speaker 2: keep them hot before you eat them. 117 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:20,359 Speaker 1: Now, what should people do if they become ill? You know, 118 00:05:20,480 --> 00:05:22,280 Speaker 1: do you need to keep your fluids up? What kind 119 00:05:22,320 --> 00:05:24,760 Speaker 1: of advice have you got? 120 00:05:24,760 --> 00:05:27,040 Speaker 2: The first thing to do is make sure you're near 121 00:05:27,080 --> 00:05:30,159 Speaker 2: a toilet, Katie. It's a good idea, and the best 122 00:05:30,160 --> 00:05:33,120 Speaker 2: way to stay near to a toilet is to stay home. 123 00:05:33,160 --> 00:05:35,080 Speaker 2: To be honest, we don't want people going to work 124 00:05:35,320 --> 00:05:37,159 Speaker 2: when they're sick, and we all learned that during COVID. 125 00:05:37,200 --> 00:05:39,200 Speaker 2: You know, if you seek stay at home, stay away 126 00:05:39,240 --> 00:05:42,520 Speaker 2: from other people, keep your fluids up. But if you 127 00:05:42,560 --> 00:05:44,320 Speaker 2: can't keep your fluids up, if you feel like you're 128 00:05:44,320 --> 00:05:46,719 Speaker 2: not getting better, if you feel like the disease is severe, 129 00:05:46,800 --> 00:05:49,000 Speaker 2: or if you see blood in your pooh, go and 130 00:05:49,040 --> 00:05:51,039 Speaker 2: see a doctor. And we ask you not to go 131 00:05:51,120 --> 00:05:53,640 Speaker 2: back to work for at least twenty four hours after 132 00:05:53,680 --> 00:05:57,280 Speaker 2: your last running pooh. And for people who look after 133 00:05:57,400 --> 00:05:59,920 Speaker 2: you know, who prepare food, look after kids, look after 134 00:06:00,080 --> 00:06:02,240 Speaker 2: older people and things like that, would say stay at 135 00:06:02,240 --> 00:06:05,279 Speaker 2: home for at least forty eight hours after your last 136 00:06:05,320 --> 00:06:05,839 Speaker 2: running poop. 137 00:06:06,080 --> 00:06:10,839 Speaker 1: Yeah, probably crossing a line here, but wait till you 138 00:06:10,839 --> 00:06:12,480 Speaker 1: can fart with confidence. I guess. 139 00:06:13,760 --> 00:06:19,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's a wise piece of advice. But it isn't 140 00:06:19,040 --> 00:06:21,360 Speaker 2: a joking matter. I mean, no, I not people get 141 00:06:21,360 --> 00:06:24,839 Speaker 2: hospitalized with gastro. It's so much fun. People can't go 142 00:06:24,880 --> 00:06:26,839 Speaker 2: to work, They've got to pick their kids up from 143 00:06:26,920 --> 00:06:29,920 Speaker 2: child care and school. So it is very disruptive and 144 00:06:29,960 --> 00:06:32,840 Speaker 2: the best way to not get gastro ripping through your 145 00:06:32,839 --> 00:06:35,160 Speaker 2: family Wash your hands, Yeah. 146 00:06:34,960 --> 00:06:37,200 Speaker 1: It is. It is such like it's such a terrible 147 00:06:37,240 --> 00:06:38,880 Speaker 1: illness to get. And I know that there's lots of 148 00:06:38,880 --> 00:06:40,680 Speaker 1: things that are much more you know, that are much 149 00:06:40,680 --> 00:06:44,120 Speaker 1: more severe, but it is terrible. Honestly, when your kids 150 00:06:44,160 --> 00:06:47,640 Speaker 1: and the whole family ends up with gastro, it is 151 00:06:47,760 --> 00:06:50,839 Speaker 1: no fun for anybody. So best to make sure that 152 00:06:50,880 --> 00:06:52,840 Speaker 1: you protect yourself, and best to make sure that you're 153 00:06:52,960 --> 00:06:57,719 Speaker 1: washing your hands and doing all of those things exactly. Yeah. Hey, 154 00:06:57,760 --> 00:07:00,360 Speaker 1: really good to talk to you this morning, Anthony. Apreciate 155 00:07:00,400 --> 00:07:03,120 Speaker 1: your time and and thank you for yeah, for having 156 00:07:03,160 --> 00:07:05,240 Speaker 1: a chat to us, letting us know what the situation is. 157 00:07:06,200 --> 00:07:07,920 Speaker 2: Excellent. Thanks Coatie, thank you