Norovirus Outbreak At Waikato Hospital

Thursday, 11 June 2009, 12:22 pm
Press Release: Waikato District Health Board

Norovirus Outbreak At Waikato Hospital

A norovirus outbreak in a general medical ward at Waikato Hospital has infection control staff urging the public to stay away from the hospital if they are sick and for GPs and rest homes to treat patients at home.

Infection Control clinical nurse manager Vicki Parry today said 12 of the 16 patients in Ward 5 had symptoms of norovirus as did one employee.

"High occupancy rates and ward closure is making it difficult for us to isolate and manage these patients," she said.

Norovirus is a highly infectious virus transmitted by hand to mouth spread. The incubation period is 24-28 hours following contact.

Symptoms include:
* Nausea
* Abdominal pain
* Vomiting and/or diarrhoea
* Fever
* Muscle aches
* Headache

"There are currently a high number of people with gastroenteritis/norovirus in the Waikato community, rest homes and within Waikato Hospital," said Ms Parry.

"We urge you to attempt to manage your patients within your facilities or at home and not to send them to hospital unless it is absolutely necessary," she said in a memo today to rest homes and GPs.

"Please advise patients and caregivers to encourage hydration by drinking small amounts of clear, lightly sweetened fluids every hour, avoiding tea, coffee and alcohol."

Personal hygiene, including regular hand washing, is essential, she said.

Attached is a norovirus fact sheet, or go to our website http://www.waikatodhb.govt.nz/events/pageid/2145845355/Norovirus_information

Norovirus Fact Sheet
Norovirus is in the community. It is a virus that causes vomiting and diarrhoea, of which usually settles within 24-48 hours. It is very contagious and is spread easily.
Do not visit a hospital or rest home if you've been sick with a tummy bug.
Facts about Norovirus:
1. Norovirus is a common viral infection. Norovirus was previously known as Norwalk-like virus, and the disease it causes has also been referred to as viral gastroenteritis, winter vomiting disease, and 24-hour tummy bug.

2. Norovirus only affects humans. It can be spread directly from person to person by hand-mouth spread (faecal-oral), or indirectly via droplet transmission and contact with contaminated surfaces.

3. Because the disease is highly infectious, norovirus often occurs in outbreaks.

4. Symptoms of norovirus can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, muscle aches, headache, tiredness, and mild fever. Symptoms usually develop within 2 days of exposure to the virus.

5. The disease is usually self-limiting, with symptoms resolving in 24-48 hours. However, young children and the elderly and people with other illnesses may be more severely affected.

6. People with norovirus are infectious while they are unwell and for several days after diarrhoea stops.

7. The best ways to prevent the spread of norovirus infection are:
* Careful handwashing at all times after going the toilet, changing nappies and before preparing food.
* If hands are not visibly dirty, alcohol hand gel is a useful alternative to clean hands.
* Keep sick people away from others. For norovirus, this means that a person who develops diarrhoea and/or vomiting should leave work or school immediately, and should avoid other people and avoid handling food until 48 hours after diarrhoea has resolved.
* Clean contaminated surfaces such as toilets, bathrooms and other hard surfaces a sick person may have touched, with a dilute bleach solution.
* It is particularly important for people who have had diarrhoea and vomiting to stay away from places where there are large numbers of other people. Infections can spread very quickly in institutions such as hospitals, rest homes, schools and hostels, or at any type of social gathering.
8. People with diarrhoea and vomiting should drink plenty of fluids, preferably in the form of an electrolyte replacement solution (available from your chemist). If diarrhoea or vomiting persists, or there is concern about a sick person's condition, telephone your general practitioner or after hours service.

About Waikato District Health Board and Health Waikato:
Waikato DHB is responsible for planning, funding and providing quality health and disability support services for the 360,270 people living in the Waikato DHB region. It has an annual turnover of $970 million and employs more than 5500 people.
Health Waikato is the DHB's main provider of hospital and health services with an annual budget of more than $560 million and 4500 staff. It has seven divisions across five hospital sites, two maternity and continuing care hospitals and 21 community bases offering a comprehensive range of primary, secondary and tertiary health services.
A wide range of independent providers delivers other Waikato DHB-funded health services - including primary health, pharmacies and community laboratories.

ends

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Waikato District Health Board

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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.

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