Thames Hospital highly contagious

Friday, 5 June 2009, 1:27 pm
Press Release: Waikato District Health Board

Thames Hospital highly contagious

For immediate release

Thames Hospital has a number of cases of diarrhoea and vomiting and asks GPs and rest homes to manage patients within the community unless they are so ill they urgently need hospitalisation.

The cases are highly contagious. Staff implemented infection control measures and notified the Medical Officer of Health.

Thames Hospital is full and only admitting urgent cases.

Preventing dehydration is the main treatment in the initial stages of diarrhoea. Drink small amounts of clear, lightly sweetened fluid every hour. Ideal fluids include diluted lemonade and weak cordial.

Alternatively,you can buy a drink mixture at a pharmacy which replaces lost salts and sugar (oral rehydration solution).

It is very important to water down sugary drinks. Avoid tea, coffee or alcohol. Dehydration can cause serious problems, especially in babies, children, older adults and those with special health problems.
We also recommend people follow these basic principles:

* social distancing
* hand hygiene - wash your hands regularly and/or use Sterigel.
* cough and sneeze etiquette; and
* enhanced cleaning (using a bleach-based cleaning agent to kill viruses)
* putting away/enhanced cleaning of shared equipment, toys etc.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Waikato District Health Board

Healthy People. Excellent Care

Waikato District Health Board (DHB) employs over 6500 people and plans, funds and provides hospital and health services to more than 391,770 people in a region covering eight per cent of New Zealand.

Contact Waikato District Health Board

• Website - www.waikatodhb.health.nz
• Link - News
• Link - A-Z of Services
• General - Contact Info
• Media Contact - news@waikatodhb.health.nz
• Facebook
• Twitter - @waikatodhb
• Linkedin