Sydney playground closed following salmonella outbreak

A playground Sydney's Northern Beaches has been closed after two children became sick with salmonella, apparently contracted after playing in the sandpit.

The children are believed to have contracted the infection through contact with native animal droppings after playing at the Warriewood Valley Rocket Park.

Northern Sydney Local Health District Public Health Director Michael Staff told local newspaper The Manly Daily that the salmonella java bug is often linked to native animals including bandicoots.

He explained “we hope that the closure of the park will prevent further cases."

The Health District said a sand sample taken from the playground was tested after two confirmed salmonella java cases were reported to the public health unit, one in April and another in May.

The young children, who played in the playground in the week prior to becoming unwell, suffered fever, abdominal pain and diarrhoea.

Both made a full recovery without requiring hospital treatment.

Dr Staff said it was most likely they contracted the illness through ingesting contaminated sand.

However, he suspected the bacteria had been brought to the sandpit by infected children who had come into contact with bandicoot droppings elsewhere.

He added “once the bug is in the sand, it can grow."

The Northern Beaches Council says it is considering replacing the sand with rubber to prevent the problem recurring.

Council Environment and Infrastructure General Manager Ben Taylor stated "the contaminated sand from the sandpit will be removed and we are reviewing whether we replace it with new sand or rubber.

“(We) will continue to rely on advice from NSW Health on the timing of the reopening of the playground.”

Dr Staff said parents of young children should try and stop them putting their hands in their mouths when they’re playing outside and get them to wash their hands after they have been outside.

There have been 12 reported cases linked to Sydney's Northern Beaches this year.

The bandicoot is a protected species. 

Images show the closed Warriewood Valley Rocket Park. 

29th April 2017 - NORTHERN BEACHES COUNCIL CONSIDERS SACRIFICING GOLF COURSES FOR SPORTS FIELDS

16th December 2016 - NEW STANDARD FOR PLAYGROUND SURFACING

14th October 2016 - OUTDOOR PLAY ESSENTIAL TO HEALTHY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT

28th December 2015 - PARENTS CONCERNED OVER CHILDREN’S EXCESSIVE SCREEN TIME

15th November 2015 - RISKY OUTDOOR PLAY POSITIVELY IMPACTS CHILDREN’S HEALTH

10th November 2015 - MELBOURNE PARK HELPS ENDANGERED EASTERN BARRED BANDICOOT TO THRIVE

8th November 2015 - FISH HOOKS AND SCREWS REPORTEDLY FOUND IN PERTH PLAYGROUND SAND 

6th June 2015 - AUSTRALIAN NATIVE MAMMALS TO BE REINTRODUCED TO NSW

11th January 2015 - NSW GOVERNMENT FUNDING TO PROTECT THREATENED NATIVE SPECIES

20th August 2014 - FEDERAL GOVERNMENT APPOINTS COMMISSIONER FOR THREATENED SPECIES