Norovirus closes hospital ward

Whangarei Hospital. Photo / NZ Herald

A ward at Whangarei Hospital has been closed off and patients isolated after an outbreak of suspected norovirus, the Northland District Health Board, (DHB) says.

The DHB has urged members of the public with viral gastroenteritis-like symptoms not to visit patients in hospital, or to call ahead for advice if they did need to visit.

Laboratory results due next week were expected to confirm it was norovirus that had taken hold of the ward.

Four patients have been isolated and two staff are affected and Ward 15 is closed to new medical admissions, with visitor restrictions in place.

The DHB's chief medical adviser, Dr Gloria Johnson, said it was a small outbreak which had been contained within the ward and infection control measures were in place to reduce the risk for other patients within the hospital.

Ward 15 visitors would be restricted to two per patient each visit and visitors were required to wear protective clothing and sanitise their hands.

"Visitors displaying gastroenteritis-like symptoms won't be permitted access to the ward unless there are exceptional circumstances and the visit has been cleared with the ward charge nurse or hospital duty manager," Dr Johnson said.

"If visitors from the community are experiencing any symptoms of nausea or diarrhoea, they should reconsider visiting family or friends in hospital, until they have been symptom-free for at least 48 hours."

Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhoea and stomach pains.

"The most effective way you can protect yourself and your family against norovirus is to wash your hands regularly, using plenty of soap, cleaning under the fingernails, rinsing your hands and thoroughly drying them on a clean towel," Dr Johnson said.

- NZPA