One child has reportedly died following an outbreak of gastro at a Sydney child care centre.

There are reports the child was one of several who had to be admitted to hospital with suspected gastro.

Although NSW health authorities say the death doesn’t appear to be related to the illness at this stage.

Six children, aged 11 months to four years, who attended the Little Zak’s Artarmon child care centre, on the city’s lower north shore, were hospitalised over the past week, four of them for gastro.

It is believed a seventh child died in hospital on Sunday.

“Everyone at our Artarmon centre has been deeply saddened by this news,” a Little Zak’s spokesperson said.

“Our directors have been in contact with the family of the child to convey our sincerest thoughts and condolences and to offer any support we can.”

Health authorities are working on finding the cause of the child’s death.

More details to come.

UPDATE 27 October

An investigation has been launched into how a child died after being hospitalised during a Sydney gastro outbreak, while another remains in hospital, reports 9 news.

Four were hospitalised with the illness with three since being discharged, NSW Health said on Thursday.

NSW health authorities say they’re “pretty confident” the death was not related to the illness and it’s believed the child did not contract the virus at all.

Dr Michael Staff from NSW Health confirmed the department is investigating what caused the child’s death.

“Because the child presented with different symptoms … we’re in the process of actually working out what the cause of illness is with some expert paediatricians,” Dr Staff told Seven Network on Thursday.

Rotavirus is a common cause of viral gastroenteritis for Australian babies and preschool children. Most children have had at least one infection by the age of three.

Rotavirus gastroenteritis is usually more severe than other types of gastroenteritis and prior to the introduction of rotavirus vaccines in Australia, the best available estimates suggest that it accounted for about 10,000 hospitalisations and 115,000 doctor visits every year for children under five years of age.

High-risk groups for rotavirus
Certain people are at increased risk of severe or even life-threatening symptoms. High-risk groups include: •Aboriginal children
•children or adults with immune system problems
•organ transplant recipients
•people with gastrointestinal problems such as short gut syndrome.

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