More Vic gastro cases as Christmas nears

Gastro cases across Victoria have surged in the lead-up to Christmas.

Issuing a festive season health warning, Victoria's Chief Health Officer Dr Rosemary Lester said there'd been a 10 per cent increase in gastro outbreaks reported to the Department of Health over the past two months.

"The cases are most commonly caused by poor personal hygiene; they can also result from poor food handling practices," he said on Tuesday.

Good personal hygiene such as washing your hands thoroughly with soap and water could prevent someone falling ill.

With people busy celebrating with family, friends and colleagues, enjoying BBQs in the summer sun and cooking family Christmas feasts, it was important to be wary of the risk and to maintain hygiene.

"The gastro bug is common and highly contagious - so it is now more important to ever to practice good personal hygiene to stop the spread of germs that cause gastro," Dr Lester said.

"If you have symptoms of gastro it is important to stay at home while you recover and avoid Christmas and New Year's parties."