Hospital In Ft. St. John Off Limits to Visitors
By 250 News
It will likely be Friday of this week before visiting restrictions have been lifted from Fort St. John Hospital.
Gastrointestinal illness is moving through the community and Northern Health wants to reduce the risk of spreading it further, so it is asking friends and family of patients to stay away.
Since Sunday, the 5th of November, there have been 19 suspected cases of the illness reported among 12 patients and 7 staff members at the Ft. St. Jon Hospital.
Dr. Charl Badenhorst, medical health officer for the Northeast. says he realizes the restrictions are incovenient, but necessary if they are to reduce the spread of the illness. "We are also advising local long-term care facilities to begin testing right away if their residents experience similar symptoms."
Viral gastroenteritis is a common illness. Symptoms can include sudden onset of nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, as well as cramping, chills and fever. These symptoms generally last from one to three days. Affected individuals should stay at home and not return to work or school until 48 hours after symptoms have resolved.
Careful hand washing is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of disease. People should wash their hands well for at least 20 seconds with warm water and soap – before and after using the washroom and before eating or preparing food.
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