Ward 16 open to new admissions

Ward 16 at Whangarei Hospital is now admitting new patients, following the recent outbreak of norovirus.
Four patients remain in isolation on the ward, with special hygiene measures in place to prevent the spread of infection, but new medical patients are being admitted to the remainder of the ward.

Visitors are still being asked to wash their hands on entering and leaving, and the hospital continues to ask that people in the community with symptoms of nausea or diarrhoea should not visit family or friends until they have been symptom-free for at least 48 hours.

Dr Ian Brown, Northland's Chief Medical Officer, said that with norovirus still circulating in the Northland community, hospital staff were remaining vigilant and taking special precautions with any patients admitted with nausea or diarrhoea.

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. Thorough hand washing is essential to prevent the spread of the disease.





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For further information, please contact:

Clare Blackburn, Communications Manager

Northland District Health Board 

Phone (09) 430 4101 ext 3315