The number of reported gastro-enteritis cases in older children and adults has more than doubled since this time last year, according to the Department of Environmental Health.

This may be due to poor water quality ? especially after Hurricane Fabian ? and people not realising their tanks should be cleaned out every five years, according to senior medical officer Dr. Brenda Davidson.

Gastro-enteritis symptoms include vomiting and diarrhoea and could be caused by many things, including salmonella. ?There has been a greater incidence of gastro-enteritis in the past few months than over the same period last year,? said Dr. Davidson.

So far this year the total reported gastro-enteritis cases for infants and children under five has been 134, and 140 for those older than five and adults. Last year those numbers stood at 103 and 69 respectively. ?That?s significant,? said Dr. Davidson.

As for salmonella, this year there have been 68 reported cases until the middle of October, while last year there were only 52. Dr. Davidson emphasised boiling water for drinking and for baby formulas, as well as testing water in tanks and greater hygienic practices such as washing hands in order to help prevent gastro-enteritis.