Hospital staff work to prevent spread of infectious bug

A ward at Whangarei Hospital will stay closed for at least a week as staff attempt to control the spread of a highly infectious vomiting and diarrhoea bug.

The outbreak, which has still not been confirmed but is suspected to be norovirus (viral gastroenteritis), is also spreading rapidly through the Northland community. Tests are being carried out to identify the organism, but results will not be available until later this week.

Currently 11 patients and 14 staff are affected. Ward 15, which was closed to new patients on Friday, is now quarantined. Visitors are being strictly limited and asked to don gowns, gloves and masks before entering. No children are being allowed into the ward, which will remain in quarantine until Monday, 21 May at the earliest.

A staff member is in daily contact with the families of patients in Ward 15, to keep them up to date with the situation and to inform them of their family member’s health status.

Staff throughout the hospital are being reminded of the need to maintain thorough hand hygiene and other infection control measures, and an Outbreak Management Team has been set up.

Members of the public who have been experiencing sickness and diarrhoea are asked not to visit patients in hospital until they have been free of symptoms for at least 48 hours. Because the disease is widely prevalent in the community, even those who have not been sick are asked to visit patients in hospital this week only if their visit is essential.

Jonathan Jarman, Northland’s Medical Officer of Health, said that for most people the disease usually lasts a couple of days. Healthy adults normally do not become severely ill, but elderly people and those with pre-existing health conditions are more likely to suffer complications.

He advised that people in the community who have sickness and diarrhoea should stay home, drink plenty of fluids, and see their family doctor if they have severe symptoms or do not improve within 48 hours.

He said: “Thorough hand washing is the best and easiest way to prevent catching the disease or passing it on to other people.”

Norovirus is a highly contagious virus found only in humans. The most usual ways of catching it are contact with infected people eating contaminated food (especially shellfish) or drinking untreated water.

 

-Ends-


For further information, please contact:

Clare Blackburn, Communications Manager

Northland District Health Board 

Phone (09) 430 4101 ext 3315