Norovirus Cases on the Rise

By 250 News

Northern Health's CEO Malcom Maxwell says  in the last several months, there have been several  instances where health facilities  have faced special restrictions because of norovirus  outbreak.

The CEO says  it is clear there have been more cases of norovirus, and the epidemiologists suggest that may indicate the bug has changed and has become easier to transmit.

Maxwell says  while the illness is very uncomfortable  for those who sufer through it, it also puts extra pressure on some facilities which  run into real difficulty because of staffing levels.  A couple of LPNs or nurses off the job says Maxwell, can  have a serious impact in the level of care.

Maxwell says the Centre for Disease Control has confirmed some 300 instances of  norvirus outbreaks this past winter.  "We will likely have to contend with higher levels of Noro Virus than we have in the past" says Maxwell who says the simplest manner in which to control  the spread of the illness, is through stepped up  hand washing, and infection control."

Chief Medical Health Officer, Dr. David Bowering offered three recommendations:

1. continually review infection control standards and practices in Nporthern health facilities
2. continue to work to standardize communications and information provided to the media and the public as the outbreaks  occur
3. reinforce the importance of hand washing and consciousness of infection control not only among staff but among the public who are often the unwitting agents who bring the illness into the facilities

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