Hospital Urges Public to Help Combat Winter Vomiting Virus

1 December 2004

West Suffolk Hospital is urging friends and family not to visit the hospital if they have symptoms of a highly infectious stomach virus.

For the last few weeks the hospital has had a number of patients affected by Norovirus (commonly known as winter vomiting virus). Norovirus is a common cause of gastroenteritis and the symptoms are vomiting and diarrhoea, lasting 24-48 hours.

Winter Vomiting Virus is highly infectious but has no long-lasting effects. It can be spread by small particles on hands, clothing, bedding, etc.

A patient or visitor who is infected can bring the virus into the hospital and infect other patients and staff. The virus is extremely common in the community and in hospitals around the country.

At present five wards at the hospital are temporarily closed to new admissions. Two of those wards are expected to re-open in the next few days.

The hospital is following stringent infection control measures including:

• temporarily closing those wards affected to new admissions

• putting in place rapid response teams to give extra intensive cleaning to wards

• staff are wearing gloves and aprons to deal with those patients affected

• visitors are being asked to wash their hands with disinfection hand foam on arrival and departure from the wards.

Last week the hospital was beginning to re-open those wards which had been temporarily closed. However, a further outbreak of the virus appeared and staff believe that visitors to the hospital are bringing the virus into the hospital.

Dr Liz Wright, Consultant Microbiologist and Infection Control Doctor, said: "While we love our patients to have friends or relatives visit, we are urging people not to come to the hospital if they, or any members of their family, have or have had any symptoms of vomiting in the previous 48 hours.

"Norovirus is very common in the community and although it is not life threatening it is highly infectious and not very pleasant."