Norovirus outbreak at Tokoroa Hospital

Tokoroa Hospital continues to remain closed to inpatients for the next 24 hours due to a norovirus outbreak.

One patient still has symptoms while another is in isolation.

Six staff are off work with five of them still showing norovirus symptoms.

The virus, which results in violent symptoms including diarrhoea and vomiting, probably came from the community because at this time of year there is always an increase circulating in the community.

Tokoroa Hospital manager Joanne Knight said the message for the South Waikato community was still to stay away from the hospital unless it was an emergency. In the first instance, telephone contact with their GP was the preferred option to try and avoid unnecessary contact with other members of the community. After hours the number is (07) 886 6111.

People with symptoms such as diarrohea, vomiting, coughs or sneezing should stay away from the hospital.

Those visiting must maintain strict hand hygiene practices.

Norovirus passes from hand-to-mouth through direct contact with another sick person, through eating contaminated food or touching surfaces and objects, (such as telephones or door handles) contaminated with the virus. It has an incubation period of 24 to 28 hours.

Symptoms include nausea, stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhoea, fever, muscle aches, and headache. The illness is usually brief but violent with symptoms lasting one to two days.

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