At least 120 Victorian festivalgoers sick amid outbreak of antibiotic-resistant strain

At least 120 festival-goers have reported gastroenteritis symptoms after attending the festival, which ran from last Friday March 8 through to Tuesday in the town of Donald.

A number of these cases have been confirmed as shigella - a gastro strain characterised by a sudden onset of diarrhoea, fever, nausea, vomiting and abdominal cramps.

Early testing indicates it is an antibiotic-resistant strain, making severe cases difficult to treat.

Anyone who attended the festival and develops symptoms of gastroenteritis is being urged to get tested for shigella immediately.

The bowel infection is highly contagious and can be transmitted either through the faecal-oral route or contaminated food, according to Victoria's Acting Chief Health Officer, Ben Cowie.

"Symptoms may include diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, nausea and vomiting," Dr Cowie said.

Festival organisers are working with the local public health unit and the Victorian Department of Health to help manage the outbreak.

Those infected usually become ill one to three days after exposure, but it can come on as quickly as 12 hours after or as late as one week after exposure in some cases.

"Make sure you're getting plenty of fluids and keeping hydrated – antibiotic treatment is only required in the case of severe infection," Dr Cowie said.

"Good hygiene can prevent the spread of shigella gastroenteritis."

Anyone with shigellosis who works as a food handler, childcare worker, health care worker or workers in a residential facility should not return to work until cleared by their doctor.