More suspected norovirus infections found at hospital

One of the wards at Christchurch Hospital struck by norovirus has reopened, but more suspected cases of the bug have surfaced in another ward.

Steve Chambers, clinical director of infectious diseases control, said ward 28 had reopened and hoped ward 27 could reopen soon.

However, ward 30 was now closed after one patient was confirmed as having norovirus, and several others are in isolation with suspected infections.

Norovirus is a highly infectious stomach bug that causes severe vomiting and diarrhoea. This year it swept through Princess Margaret Hospital, closing several wards and infecting 200 patients and staff.

Dr Chambers urged people with symptoms to stay away from the hospital's emergency department unless they required urgent assistance.

"If they are otherwise fit they should call their GP," he said.

If they felt they did have to go to the emergency department, it would be helpful if they limited the number of people they took with them.

Dr Chambers said the fewer people in the emergency department, the easier it would be to control the spread of norovirus infection.

"Sometimes a family or several friends will come with a patient," Dr Chambers said.

"This is a potential issue with norovirus because it is highly infectious. We need to reduce the numbers of people coming [in] who are supporting a patient."

Children and elderly people were particularly vulnerable to norovirus and it was important that they stayed away altogether, he said.

Visitors to the wards affected needed to observe strict hygiene measures and are being asked to contact ward staff on arrival.

- NZPA