KEY POINTS:
Some young Scouts will have to stay behind when the Scout jamboree ends in Christchurch tomorrow because they will still be contagious after an outbreak of norovirus.
Canterbury medical officer of health Dr Alastair Humphrey said four children would have to stay in the tent hospital erected at the jamboree and several others had found accommodation in the Christchurch area.
He said last night there were 11 people in the tent hospital, 17 in a holding tent and eight in the chicken pox tent.
All 17 in the holding tent and all those with chicken pox would be able to return home with the rest of the Scouts, Dr Humphrey said.
The number of norovirus sufferers was "constant, but low".
"I remain hopeful we ultimately have a downturn."
The rate of norovirus at the camp had been low, at 2 per cent.
At other places, in other conditions, it could have been as high as 25 per cent, Dr Humphrey said. "It's a remarkable testimony to the hygiene of the Scouts."
Six new cases of chicken pox were reported yesterday.
They were from troops neighbouring the Fijian camp, where two cases were reported on Thursday, Dr Humphrey said.
The new sufferers were all New Zealanders who are "less vulnerable" to the disease than the Fijians.
- NZPA
