Norovirus hits Dunedin hospital wards again

Dunedin Hospital is bracing itself for a new wave of the contagious norovirus which resulted in a lockdown at the hospital last week.

A number of new cases of patients falling ill with vomiting and diarrhoea has resulted in the closure of six of the hospital wards int he past 24 hours leaving management on tenterhooks.

The original norovirus outbreak three weeks ago affected more than 170 staff and patients.

More than 2300 procedures, outpatient visits and planned admissions were postponed as staff fought to control the spread of the virus.

Chief nursing officer Teresa Bradfield said it was not unusual to have a second wave of the illness following an initial outbreak and staff were working hard to control it.

She asked visitors to the hospital to help by strictly observing visiting hours, which runs from 2pm to 8pm.

Otago District Health Board chief executive Brian Rousseau said a panel of four people would review the hospital's handling of the outbreak.

- NZPA