Don't let bug spread, medical officer urges

The reported cases of a "nasty" stomach bug hitting Hawke's Bay has risen to 68.

The cause of the Cryptosporidium, or Crypto, outbreak is not known, but health officials say it appears to be from more than one source.

Hawke's Bay District Health Board Medical officer of Health Nicholas Jones said some cases seemed to be associated with person-to-person spread in the home or a daycare setting.

Dr Jones urged parents to keep children home for 48 hours after symptoms of a tummy upset and diarrhoea disappeared: "Crypto can spread easily ... keeping sick children away is essential to stop the spread."

The illness ranged from mild symptoms to more severe, and usually lasted fewer than four weeks.