The Gwersyll Yr Urdd (Glan Llyn) activity centre in Llanuwchllyn, Bala has been closed to new arrivals after a number of children developed a mild tummy upset.
In total about 60 children, out of more than 300 staying at the centre since Saturday (28 April), have been ill. The most common symptoms have been vomiting and diarrhoea. All children affected have made a full recovery in a day or two.
Working closely with the manager of Gwersyll Yr Urdd, an outbreak control team has been set up with officials from Gwynedd Council, Gwynedd Local Health Board and the National Public Health Service for Wales (NPHS).
Dr Chris Whiteside, Consultant in Communicable Disease Control for the NPHS, said, ?It is most likely, from the evidence to date, that this is a viral gastroenteritis. This is commonly seen across the UK.
The virus spreads easily among school age children. It is important that any child with diarrhoea and vomiting should remain at home until 48 hours after symptoms stop.
We have closed the centre for a few days to new arrivals, all of whom have been relocated to other centres locally. This will allow teams of staff to give an extra clean to the centre before children arrive. It will also ensure that there is no opportunity for further spread of infection between the children.
I expect the centre to reopen to children on Tuesday.?
One group of primary school aged children from the St Lawrence primary school in the Wirral have been sent home early. A group of 20 students from Birmingham University have decided to leave early. Two other groups ? from Maerdy Junior School in Rhondda and from Ysgol Dyffryn Teifi in Llandysul ? have had their visits cancelled and relocated to other centres.
Children from Aberystwyth (Ysgol Gymraeg) and Anglesey (Ysgol Llandegfan, Ysgol Rhoscolyn, Ysgol Talwrn, Ysgol Morswyn, Caergybi / Holyhead, Ysgol Ffrwd Win, Llanfaethlu, Ysgol Llanfechell, Ysgol Gynradd Bodedern, Ysgol Esceifiog, Gaerwen, Ysgol Cemaes and Ysgol Bryngwran) were staying at Gwersyll Yr Urdd over the weekend.