COMMUNICATIONS

Precautions Taken To Limit Spread Of Norovirus

The Canterbury District Health Board is working to limit the effects of recent Norovirus cases in The Princess Margaret Hospital and its other hospitals.

This time of year is when gastrointestinal bugs are most prevalent in the general community. Norovirus is one of a number of viruses that cause stomach upsets, vomiting and diarrhoea.

In the last week, there have been two small clusters of Norovirus cases in wards 3a and 3b at The Princess Margaret Hospital. Ward 3b is currently closed to admissions and one room in 3a has been isolated as a precaution, although tests for Norovirus are all negative for 3a. There have also been other cases of Norovirus scattered throughout Canterbury hospitals in recent weeks.

“Despite its prevalence, we take Norovirus very seriously because of the effect it can have on people who are already sick,” Canterbury District Health Board Chief Medical Officer Nigel Millar said. “Each infected person is isolated from patients who do not have the bug as soon as they are identified,” he said.

“One of the greatest problems with Norovirus is the ease with which it spreads. Merely being in the same room as someone who vomits can be enough to become infected. It is one of the most highly infectious viruses requiring a mere 1 to 10 viral particles to infect someone. To add to that it is very hardy and can survive for up to 48 hours on hard surfaces.”

Members of the public visiting hospital wards or rest homes where people are sick with Norovirus should expect to be asked to take simple precautions to protect themselves and others. It is also important that people who have active symptoms of gastroenteritis do not visit hospital patients until they have been clear of symptoms for 48 hours.

The public can be reassured that all CDHB staff will be working hard to take all possible measures to protect patients from Norovirus at this time of year.

ENDS