The National Water Commission (NWC) is dismissing claims that it is unable to properly treat water because of a lack of materials.

According to the agency, there is absolutely no truth to the suggestion that there is inadequate supply to treat water that is produced and distributed through its service.

The statement from the agency comes in light of a message that has been making the rounds on social media, claiming that a major outbreak of gastroenteritis will sweep the country due to the NWC not having sufficient materials to test and properly treat water for the past few days.

The message also stated that parish councils would be meeting to discuss the issue at hand. It also cautioned people from drinking and cooking with water straight from the tap.

In the voice note that has also been circulating, a man claiming to be a medical doctor, is heard saying that there is a serious case of gastroenteritis going around among paediatric patients and that a patient who had similar symptoms succumbed at Cornwall Regional Hospital.

“I need you guys to be very vigilant with the paediatric patients. There is a serious bout of gastroenteritis and I need everyone to be vigilant about it. We need to ensure that we have all the necessary tools that we need to hydrate the younger patients. There is a serious virus going around. It is not only in Montego Bay but also in Kingston, so we need to be very vigilant.”

It has been reported that there is a rise in cases of gastroenteritis in St James and St Andrew, with doctors at Cornwall Regional Hospital (CRH) in Montego Bay confirming that a two-year-old boy, who was admitted to the medical facility Tuesday night with symptoms of the disease, died hours later Wednesday morning.

In another WhatsApp message that has been going around, an individual who did not identify herself, claimed there were more than 200 patients seeking treatment at the Bustamante Children’s Hospital on Wednesday and, of that number, approximately 60 of them were experiencing vomiting, diarrhea and fever.

Her claims have not been verified.

What is Gastroenteritis?

According to the Mayo Clinic gastroenteritis is an inflammation of the stomach and intestine and can be caused by either viruses or bacteria. The viruses are quite contagious and cause damage to the cells lining the intestines.

Common causes of gastroenteritis includes: viruses, food or water contaminated by bacteria or parasites and side effects from medications.

Symptoms include diarrhoea, vomiting, fever, and abdominal pain, which usually begin one to two days after exposure to the virus and usually last three to eight days.