COMMUNICATIONS

Norovirus Update

The Canterbury District Health Board would like to re-iterate that norovirus is prevalent in the community at the moment and this has been reflected in the recent outbreak at Christchurch Hospital and The Princess Margaret Hospital.

Infection control precautions have been taken to control the spread of the virus since it first became apparent at the hospitals early last week. People with symptoms have been isolated, some wards have been closed to new admissions and staff, patients and visitors have been advised on hygiene precautions.

It is not CDHB policy to transfer patients who have norovirus symptoms to rest homes or other hospitals. Some patients have been discharged and have subsequently become ill. The origin of their illness in these situations can be from a number of sources – the hospital outbreak, visitors or contracting the bug after discharge. Norovirus has a very short incubation period – some people can become sick after only ten hours. However, the most common incubation period is 48 hours.

The CDHB has not said that the spread of norovirus within the hospital settings has been entirely due to visitors. It is highly contagious and has spread to a number of patients and staff within the hospitals. Due to its prevalence in the community, some visitors may have inadvertently come into hospital with norovirus – some vomiting during their visit. Norovirus has also been brought into Christchurch Hospital, with unwell people presenting at the Emergency Department. Both of these occurrences are understandable.

According to the CDHB’s Chief Medical Officer Nigel Millar, one of the greatest problems with norovirus is the ease with which it spreads. “Merely being in the same room as someone who vomits can be enough to become infected. It is one of the most highly infectious viruses, requiring a mere one to ten viral particles to infect someone. To add to that it is very hardy and can survive for up to 48 hours on hard surfaces.”

The CDHB would also like to emphasise that it has been advising visitors to think carefully before they come to the hospitals but has not asked all visitors to stay away. Those that have been ill in the previous 48 hours or are at high risk, including children, the elderly and frail, are the only people that have been advised not to visit. Some reporting in the media has been inaccurate on this issue.

At The Princess Margaret Hospital, two wards remain closed to new admissions due to norovirus but are expected to open by the end of tomorrow. There some patients with norovirus in isolation in the hospital.

At Christchurch Hospital, one ward remains closed to new admissions, except for patients admitted with symptoms of diarrhoea and/or vomiting. There are several patients in isolation in other wards.

The CDHB is continuing to monitor the situation, infection control measures are in place and staff and the public are being kept informed about the situation with regular updates.

ENDS