Tummy bug hits hospital

5 January 2007

Tummy bug hits hospital

A small outbreak of gastroenteritis (a tummy bug often caused by norovirus) is affecting some wards at Tauranga Hospital.

It is believed that the tummy bug is also occurring within the general Western Bay of Plenty Community at present.

So far there have been approximately 18 cases of norovirus in Ward 7, and Wards 9 and 10. New cases of the virus appear to be slowing up, but the hospital is still taking precautions to ensure the safety of patients and staff.

The affected wards have been closed to new admissions with discharges and transfers from these wards restricted to prevent outbreaks in rest homes and other hospitals and to limit the outbreak within the hospital. Visiting to Ward 7 and Wards 9 and 10 is restricted to adult family members with no symptoms.

“The public is reminded that norovirus is highly infectious, but control is best achieved by strict hand washing after using a toilet. Families are asked to avoid visiting the hospital if any of their immediate members have gastroenteritis,” says Bay of Plenty District Health Board Infectious Disease Physician, Dr Brian Dwyer.

Dr Dwyer says the community can further assist the hospital to prevent the spread of the virus by ensuring that anyone with the tummy bug does not visit the hospital until 48 hours after the last symptoms. He also says that no children should visit infected wards until the virus is cleared.

The hospital has requested that any rest homes with gastroenteritis advise the hospital prior to sending any patients to the hospital for admission and has undertaken that the hospital will do likewise.

People can avoid the bug and prevent passing it on by:

- Washing and drying your hands thoroughly before eating or preparing food and after going to the toilet.
- Staying away from others and taking extra hygiene precautions while any symptoms (eg diarrhoea, tummy pains/cramps, or while ‘off your food’) continue.

- Not eating any raw shellfish.

ENDS

© Scoop Media