AN outbreak of gastroenteritis at Tauranga Hospital has prompted health chiefs to close three wards to new admissions and warn the public in a bid to stop the virus spreading further.
There have been 18 cases to date across wards 7, 9 and 10 of norovirus _ the name given to
the group of viruses that cause gastroenteritis _ with elderly patients affected the most.
Four members of staff have been affected while the hospital has also received reports that people across the Western Bay are suffering from the stomach bug.
However, it is too early to say if the outbreak will be as widespread as the one that affected six wards at the hospital in February and March last year as the debilitating virus spread across the country.
Hospital spokesperson Michelle Gray said yesterday that new cases of the virus at the hospital appeared to be slowing but said more test results had yet to be released.
Steps taken to halt the spread of the virus since the first case was confirmed on New Year's Day have been closing the affected wards to new admissions and stopping the transfer of patients who show symptoms.
Children are not allowed to visit the affected wards until the outbreak has been cleared while the only permitted visitors are adult family members with no symptoms of the virus.
The hospital has also requested that any rest homes with residents who have gastroenteritis symptoms should contact the hospital first before sending them for admission.
Dr Brian Dwyer, Bay of Plenty District Health Board Infectious Disease Physician, said norovirus was highly infectious and that one of the best means of control was for people to wash their hands thoroughly after using a toilet.
Dr Dwyer said he was not aware of any patients dying at the hospital as a result of contracting gastroenteritis but said elderly people's health was put at increased risk if they caught it.
"Talking to local GPs it appears there have been cases out in the community. We will probably never know how it came into the hospital. We are taking each day at a time and have implemented measures reasonably promptly.
"If it settles down over the weekend we could be returning to normal in midweek."
AN outbreak of gastroenteritis at Tauranga Hospital has prompted health chiefs to close three wards to new admissions and warn the public in a bid to stop the virus spreading further.
There have been 18 cases to date across wards 7, 9 and 10 of norovirus _ the name given to
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.