Stomach bug closes hospital wards (From Crewe Guardian)

Stomach bug closes hospital wards

9:22am Monday 2nd April 2007

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LEIGHTON Hospital has been forced to close some of its wards to new admissions following the outbreak of a nasty stomach bug.

Currently 39 patients on four wards at the hospital and a small number of staff have been affected by viral gastroenteritis.

“The comfort and care of our patients remains our top priority and we are doing everything we can to limit the spread of this seasonal virus."

Karen Egan, Head of Infection Prevention and Control

The affected wards have been temporarily closed to new admissions as part of measures being taken to prevent the spread of the bug and hospital bosses are appealing for visiting to wards to be kept to the essential minimum.

Karen Egan, Head of Infection Prevention and Control, said: "The comfort and care of our patients remains our top priority and we are doing everything we can to limit the spread of this seasonal virus.

"We have restricted the areas where infected patients are staying to prevent the bug spreading further."

Other measures in place include isolation of affected patients, reinforcement of hygiene measures and an increase in the cleaning schedule.

The stomach bug is thought to be caused by the Norovirus, otherwise known as the Winter vomiting virus' and is the most common form of gastroenteritis in England and Wales, affecting between 600,000 and one million people in the UK every year.

The virus is easily transmitted from person to person which often leads to outbreaks in semi-closed environments such as hospitals, schools, nursing homes and cruise ships.

There is no specific treatment for the bug other than drinking plenty of fluids.

Symptoms, which begin with sudden nausea followed by projectile vomiting and watery diarrhoea, start around 12 to 48 hours after infection and can last from 12-60 hours.

People can also suffer from a raised temperature, aching limbs and headaches.

Ms Egan added: "The symptoms, although unpleasant, are short-lived and people usually recover without treatment.

"But we would ask members of the public to consider keeping visiting to an absolute minimum for the time being or even waiting until their relative has been discharged home."

The situation is being monitored by the Trust's Infection and Prevention Control Service and senior managers who are working with staff to ensure the situation is returned to normal as soon as possible.

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