Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Hospital patients, staff hit with virus -- By Roger Knox - Vernon Morning Star - January 13, 2008

Visitors to Vernon Jubilee Hospital are being asked to either stay away or take precautions upon visiting patients following an outbreak of the Norwalk Virus.

Peter du Toit, Interior Health’s Health Services Administrator for North Okanagan, said the virus hit on the hospital’s medical wards.

“It started with an outbreak of gastro symptoms at the end of last week,” said du Toit Friday morning. “On Thursday, we had 12 patients and 10 staff that were impacted. We put the patients with the symptoms together to help prevent a spread of the virus.”

Visitors to the hospital are greeted with a sign right in the front lobby, explaining that an outbreak of vomiting and diarhhea has occurred, and people are being discouraged to visit patients at this time.

If you do go to see someone in the hospital, you’re encouraged to wash your hands before and after the visit, or after making contact with a patient.

The hospital is monitoring the situation on an hour-to-hour basis.

“The staff and everyone at the hospital is doing a great job to make sure the virus doesn’t get out of hand,” said du Toit. “The Norovirus is extremely contagious.”

Medical information from a website says the Norwalk virus is a common cause of vomiting and diarhhea in winter, and is often called the stomach flu.

The Norovirus group causes viral gastroenteritis predominantly during the winter in temperate climates.

Outbreaks of Norwalk virus usually occur in schools, nursing homes or in group settings, such as banquet halls and cruise ships.

A Norwalk virus infection usually results in illness 24-to-48 hours after exposure, and symptoms last from 12-to-48 hours. The illness is characterized by the quick onset of vomiting and diarrhea. Abdominal cramps are common, and many patients report headache, nausea, and low-grade fever.

Norwalk virus infection is more frequent in older children and adults than in infants and toddlers.

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I have been a resident of Coldstream since 1976. I have had 15 years of experience on Council, 3 years as Mayor. As a current Councillor I am working to achieve fair water and sewer rates and to ensure that taxpayers get fair treatment. The current direction regarding water supply is unsustainable and I am doing all I can to get the most cost effective water supply possible.