Bug-hit nursery reopens

A ROYTON nursery reopened its doors today following an outbreak of the norovirus.

A total of 25 children and five staff were affected by the winter vomiting bug at Newbank House Day Nursery, Oldham Road, Heyside, which was forced to close on Friday.

All have now recovered or are recovering.

The first cases at the nursery, which caters for children aged six weeks to four years, were identified the previous week.

The norovirus is the most common cause of viral gastro-enteritis in England and Wales and causes diarrhoea and vomiting.

Staff spent Friday sterilising the nursery following advice from environmental health department and Ofsted.

Parents were informed through telephone calls and by letter, as well as when they came to collect their children on Thursday.

Owner Amika Abbott said: “We have done everything we can and followed procedures from the environmental health department and Ofsted.”

One concerned parent, who did not want to be named, said: “I was told by a letter when I went to pick up my daughter on Thursday afternoon.

“She has been fine up to now but I am keeping a look out for any signs — 25 cases in one nursery is quite shocking.”

A council spokesman said: “The owner of the private nursery contacted the council’s environmental health team on Thursday for advice and was referred to the infection control team at NHS Oldham.”

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) and NHS Oldham are investigating the outbreak.

Ruth Philp, nurse consultant in health protection for the HPA in the North-West, said: “Norovirus infection causes a very unpleasant but generally short-lived illness.

“The nursery is working closely with us and the primary care trust to investigate the cause of the illness.

“Recommended infection control measures have already been put in place and all cases have been advised not to return to the nursery until their symptoms have ceased for 48 hours.”