British Columbia - Norovirus

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Norovirus hits Island nursing homes

By Richard Watts, Times ColonistMarch 24, 2010

Nurses and other staff in four Vancouver Island nursing homes are gowning up and putting on gloves to cope with outbreaks of norovirus.

The illness has turned up at the Priory in Langford, Resthaven Lodge in Sidney, Sunrise in Victoria and Arrowsmith Lodge in Parksville.

Bev Dobbyn, nurse and director of infection prevention and control for the Vancouver Island Health Authority, said health-care providers have posted notices about the outbreak, and are paying extra attention to cleanliness.

Norovirus is a gastrointestinal illness with symptoms including diarrhea and vomiting that can lead to serious dehydration.

The health authority issued a warning yesterday that norovirus is turning up in the community, a regular seasonal occurrence.

People with symptoms are asked to avoid visiting people in hospitals or residential-care facilities until 48 hours after symptoms have gone. People with suppressed immune systems are also urged to postpone visiting patients in the affected facilities. Those who continue to visit are advised to check with the facility and follow all infection-control procedures, especially hand-washing and use of hand sanitizers./.../

Read more: http://www.timescolonist.com/health/Norovirus+hits+Island+nursing+homes/2720015/story.html#ixzz0j6RuGAEl

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Re: Vancouver - Norovirus hits Island nursing homes

Norovirus back in town on schedule

Updated: March 28, 2010 8:47 PM
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<!--endclickprintexclude-->Just don't call it the flu

The symptoms are unmistakable. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, sore tummy and slight fever.

Many people grew up calling it the stomach flu.

"But it is definitely not an influenza virus," Vancouver Island Health
Authority spokesperson Shannon Marshall said of norovirus.

Where influenza is a respiratory illness, norovirus is a virus originally called Norwalk, after the Ohio town where it was identified in 1972.
...

More at:

http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_south/oakbaynews/news/89372512.html

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British Columbia - Norovirus

Nanaimo

NRGH sees spread of Norovirus

By Jenn Marshall - Nanaimo News Bulletin
Published: May 10, 2010 3:00 PM

People are being discouraged from visiting patients in certain areas of Nanaimo Regional General Hospital due to an outbreak of Norovirus-like illness.

The outbreak was declared May 4 on the east side of the hospital?s first floor. Six patients and one staff member displayed symptoms of gastrointestinal-like illness, which include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and slight fever.

On May 6, one new patient on the first floor was reported with symptoms and an outbreak was also declared on the fourth floor, where five patients and three staff also had symptoms. As of Friday, there were five patients on the first floor with symptoms and five patients and one staff member on the fourth floor.

The health authority is still awaiting lab results to confirm whether the symptoms are a result of Norovirus.
Signs are posted around NRGH informing visitors about the outbreak and visitors are asked to report to the nursing station before entering patient rooms.

Those who want to visit patients in the affected areas are being asked not to do so except for compassionate reasons. All visitors are asked to wash their hands when entering or exiting the facility, as it is the most effective way to prevent the spread of this virus.
reporter@nanaimobulletin.com

Symptoms of Norovirus include nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, abdominal pain and slight fever. The incubation period is 24-48 hours.
The illness usually begins suddenly and lasts for one to three days. It is transmitted by direct or indirect contact from contaminated hands and surfaces or by droplets when infected persons vomit.

http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_central/nanaimonewsbulletin/news/93316804.html

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Re: British Columbia - Norovirus

Hospital battles bug

By Jenn Marshall - Nanaimo News Bulletin
Published: May 12, 2010 3:00 PM
Updated: May 12, 2010 3:56 PM

Health officials are stepping up efforts to contain the outbreak of Norovirus at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital.

The Vancouver Island Health Authority is asking people with gastro symptoms like vomiting or diarrhea who are scheduled for day procedures at NRGH, such as day surgeries or medical imaging, to cancel their appointmenst.

There is a significant amount of Norovirus-like illness in the community, and at other health facilities, and it is highly contagious.
People are also asked not to visit patients in the effected areas except for compassionate reasons.

The outbreak, first declared May 4 on the east side of the hospital?s first floor, is now on floors four, six and in the rehabilitation department as well.

So far, 23 patients have symptoms of Norovirus, which include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and slight fever, and the virus has been confirmed in at least 14 of those cases. Hospital officials also know of six staff members who have Norovirus symptoms.

Information signs are posted around NRGH regarding the outbreak and visitors are asked to report to the nursing station before entering patient rooms and wash their hands when entering or exiting the facility as it is the most effective way to prevent the spread of this virus.

For more information about Norovirus, please go to www.healthlinkbc.ca/healthfiles and then type Norovirus into the search engine.

reporter@nanaimobulletin.com

http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_central/nanaimonewsbulletin/news/93631189.html

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Re: British Columbia - Norovirus

NRGH battles with two painful viruses

Clostridium difficile and norovirus spread through hospital and prompt warnings

By Derek Spalding, The Daily News May 14, 2010

The number of patients infected with the contagious norovirus at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital has increased to 21, forcing hospital staff to heighten their infection control measures even further.

NRGH has dealt with an outbreak of Clostridium difficile since March 31 and a norovirus outbreak since May 4, both of which have led to increased precautions. Infection control staff have isolated patients, enhanced cleaning and encouraged people to stay away from the hospital, especially for people who have noro-like illnesses.

Combating two diseases at once can be difficult, but many of the methods to fight each of the viruses are the same, according to experts. While there are many more patents involved with two different outbreaks, there are no extra resources needed to combat both, explained Bev Dobbyn, director of infection prevention and control for the Vancouver Island Health Authority.

No new cases of C. difficile were identified as of reports from Wednesday.

The highly contagious norovirus primarily comes from the community and is difficult to catch because people can carry the virus without symptoms, which include diarrhea and vomiting.

"Generally where you see the spread is in emergency room department, where people are exposing other patients, who are then admitted to other areas of the hospital," said Dobbyn. "When you get it, you're fine, then the next moment you're vomiting or you've got diarrhea. When you got it, you know you got it."

Lab tests have confirmed 21 cases of norovirus. A total of 23 patients and six more staff members have symptoms. Eight patients still had C. difficile, a bacterium that causes diarrhea and other serious intestinal conditions.

Hospital staff are asking anyone with gastro symptoms to cancel any medical procedures, such as X-rays. Thorough hand-washing with soap and warm running water is the best way to prevent the spread of the virus.

DSpalding@nanaimodailynews.com

http://www.canada.com/NRGH+battles+with+painful+viruses/3027160/story.html

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Re: British Columbia - Norovirus

Norovirus takes hold at Cowichan hospital

Published: May 14, 2010 10:00 AM
Updated: May 14, 2010 12:26 PM

A new outbreak of the stubborn norovirus at Cowichan District Hospital is being fought with heavier cleaning details and hand-washing reminders, a health authority spokeswoman says.

?We do have a norovirus outbreak that was declared on May 7,?Anya Nimmon said

This time, 24 CDH patients have been infected by the intestinal bug. Fourteen of those currently remain in hospital.

Two of those diagnosed with the norovirus have died. It has been ruled the virus did not play a role in the first death, while an investigation into the second is pending.

Active outbreaks are always listed on the Vancouver Island Health Authority?s website, she noted.

Norovirus-like outbreaks at CDH, or its valley facilities, happened in December 2002 and 2005, and in February and April 2006.

Overcrowding at CDH can allow the highly contagious virus to infect folks faster, she indicated. Some workers have been infected too.

?Anecdotally, some staff have come down with gastrointestinal symptoms, however, we don?t require staff to tell us why they?re off (absent) so we don?t know how many staff may be ill,? Nimmon said.

?We are asking staff, through managers, if they will let us know if they have symptoms so we may get a better sense of the numbers.?

Signs warning visitors of the norovirus outbreak are posted at CDH. ?While we are not restricting visitors, we are discouraging people from visiting the outbreak area, except for compassionate reasons.?

CDH visitors are reminded to thoroughly wash their hands when entering and leaving the facility.

Meanwhile, it?s war against norovirus at CDH, she explained.

?Enhanced infection control processes are in place at CDH, including enhanced cleaning of outbreak areas, and patient and staff common areas.?

Norovirus symptoms include nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, abdominal pain and a slight fever.

Its incubation period is 24 to 48 hours.

?The illness usually begins suddenly and lasts for one to three days. It?s transmitted by direct or indirect contact from contaminated hands and surfaces, or by droplets when infected persons vomit,? Nimmon said.

/.../

http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_central/cowichannewsleader/news/93730024.html

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Re: British Columbia - Norovirus

Absenteeism up at middle school from norovirus

Coquitlam NOW May 14, 2010

Nearly 70 Pitt River Middle School students and staff were home sick this week after a suspected case of norovirus spread through the school.

Absenteeism surpassed the 20-per-cent mark as a contagious gastrointestinal illness afflicted the school community. Symptoms include vomiting, cramping, chills, fever and diarrhea. "Some students got violently ill quickly with vomiting and of course were sent home," said School District 43 spokesperson Cheryl Quinton.

The district sent in extra cleaning crews on Tuesday and Wednesday nights to disinfect high-touch surfaces like doorknobs, tabletops and desktops.

Fraser Health recommends thorough handwashing to prevent the spread of the virus. Those who are ill should stay home for 48 hours after symptoms subside.

http://www.thenownews.com/health/story.html?id=3025224#ixzz0nwQ5ZiqR

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Re: British Columbia - Norovirus

Nanaimo hospital declares norovirus virus outbreak

Victoria Times Colonist May 15, 2010 6:09 PM


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Posters placed in doorways and hallways at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital urge visitors to uuse the hand sanitizers provided May 13, 2010. Visitors have since been asked to stay away from the hospital after a hospital-wide outbreak of norovirus was declared.

Photograph by: Krista Bryce, Nanaimo Daily News

NANAIMO, B.C. ? Visitors were asked to stay away Friday from Nanaimo Regional General Hospital after a hospital-wide outbreak of norovirus was declared.

Outbreaks of the infection had previously been declared on various units.
The Vancouver Island Health Authority said the hospital now has 22 patients with symptoms, including four who became ill Friday after being exposed in the emergency department.

The health authority said the infection is "constantly" being re-introduced through patients with the illness coming into the emergency ward, posing a risk to already frail patients with other medical conditions in the hospital.

Otherwise healthy people who develop gastrointestinal symptoms are asked not to go to the emergency department unless they're suffering from severe dehydration.

Visitors have also been asked to postpone their visits until after the outbreak is over, except those seeing palliative patients.

Norovirus is highly contagious ? up to half of those exposed go on to develop symptoms, which include sudden onset of nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea sometimes accompanied by abdominal pain and tenderness. The incubation period is 24-48 hours, and the illness lasts one to three days.

Patients are advised to remain home for at least 48 hours after their symptoms have ended.

Last month, three patients infected with C. difficile died at the hospital, after the third outbreak of the infection in two years. Health officials said overcrowding at the facility contributed to spread of the disease.

http://www.vancouversun.com/health/Nanaimo+hospital+declares+norovirus+virus+outbreak/3033528/story.html#ixzz0o3ICaICp