Two popular Queensland camping grounds have been abruptly closed following an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness.
Campers have been told to leave the sites at the MV Sarawak and MV Sarawak West camping areas at Inskip Point, north of the Sunshine Coast.
The camping areas will be closed until at least Wednesday next week to allow Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service rangers to thoroughly clean the toilet facilities.
Queensland Health believes a person arrived at Sarawak campground with the illness in its early stages and later developed symptoms.
The Chronicle newspaper reports that a similar outbreak was recorded in November, where several people experienced severe vomiting and other gastrointestinal symptoms and reported it to rangers.
Queensland Health’s advises gastrointestinal illnesses are highly contagious and could have been spread among campers through poor hygiene, close personal contact or use of shared facilities.
Because of the close proximity of sites and the shared amenities, illness can easily sweep through caravan parks and camping areas.
Back in 2018, a number of caravan parks along Victoria’s Great Ocean Road were severely affected by a nasty gastro outbreak, leaving some campers upset that they were not kept fully informed of the situation.
Back on the Sunshine Coast, campers currently at MV Sarawak and MV Sarawak West camping areas have been instructed to leave, and not relocate to another campground for the next 72 hours.
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service workers will contact people who hold existing bookings up until December 9 and those who are yet to set up camp at MV Sarawak and MV Sarawak West camping areas to advise them they can relocate to another area within the Inskip Peninsula, subject to availability.
Refunds will be provided for people who are unsatisfied or cannot be accommodated.
yes this is caused by those vinegar or fruit flies that breed at the toilets & then swarm through the campsites & land on your lunch or in your beer & then in your stomach , iknow i was sick from there several times over a few years