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Early Childhood Education and School Toolkits

What is Viral Gastroenteritis?

Gastroenteritis is an infection that causes the inflammation or swelling of the stomach and intestines. Although it is often called the “stomach flu”, it is not related to the flu (a respiratory illness caused by the influenza virus). Gastroenteritis can be caused by viruses, bacteria, or parasites.
 
When gastroenteritis is caused by a virus, it is known as viral gastroenteritis. Some of the more common viruses that cause gastroenteritis include norovirus, rotavirus, astrovirus, and adenovirus.
 
When gastroenteritis is caused by a type of bacterium, it is called bacterial gastroenteritis. The more common bacteria that cause gastroenteritis include E. coli, Salmonella, Shigella, and Campylobacter.

Reporting Viral Gastroenteritis Outbreaks

Any incidence of 2 or more individuals at a childcare center experiencing vomiting or diarrhea within a 5-day period must immediately be reported to the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department). Once reported, the Health Department will conduct an investigation, provide guidance on how best to manage the situation, and determine whether it constitutes an outbreak.

An outbreak of gastroenteritis is defined as:
 
  • 3 or more linked individuals experiencing vomiting or diarrhea within a 5-day period.
  • Individuals are considered linked if they have had contact with one another or been exposed to a common source and are not from the same household.

    Viral Gastroenteritis Toolkit for Childcare Centers

Controlling Outbreaks of Viral Gastroenteritis in Schools: An outbreak of gastroenteritis is defined as 3 or more individuals experiencing vomiting or diarrhea at the same facility within a 5-day period. Individuals are considered linked if they have had contact with one another or been exposed to a common source (e.g., same classroom, grade level, sports team, etc.) and are not from the same household. 

If an outbreak is identified immediately report to the Long Beach Health Department’s Communicable Disease Surveillance and Control Division at (562) 570-4302.

What is a Respiratory Illness?

Respiratory illnesses are infections of the respiratory (breathing) system, caused by viruses or bacteria with an incubation period of 3 to 15 days.

This toolkit will focus primarily on respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza (flu). The nonpharmaceutical recommendations in this document can also help schools and childcare centers reduce and respond to the occurrence and spread of other respiratory illnesses, including rhinovirus, enterovirus D68, metapneumovirus, as well as other viruses and bacteria that can cause respiratory illness.

Reporting Respiratory Illness Outbreaks

All suspected outbreaks of non-COVID-19 acute respiratory illness such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza (flu) should be immediately reported to the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services. For more information about reporting COVID-19 outbreaks, please visit Schools (longbeach.gov).

 An outbreak of respiratory illness is defined as: 

  • a facility with at least 10% of its total average daily attendance absent with respiratory illness over a 3-day period or
  • 5 or more epidemiologically linked cases (e.g., same classroom, sports team, etc.) over a 3-day period with each person experiencing at least 2 flu-like symptoms (i.e., fever or signs of fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, or muscle aches)

If an outbreak is identified immediately report to the Long Beach Health Department’s Communicable Disease Surveillance and Control Division at (562) 570-4302.

Respiratory Illness Toolkit

Prevention & Control of Respiratory Illness in Schools & Childcare Centers