Norovirus outbreak at Waikato Hospital

Patients are being urged to stay away from Waikato Hospital unless "absolutely necessary" after a norovirus outbreak in a general ward.

The highly infectious virus causes symptoms including vomiting, diarrhoea, muscle aches and fever. The symptoms take one to two days to present after infection.

Infection Control clinical nurse manager Vicki Parry today said 12 of the 16 patients in Ward 5 had symptoms of norovirus as did one employee.

"High occupancy rates and ward closure is making it difficult for us to isolate and manage these patients," she said.

Ms Parry said a number of people in the Waikato community had norovirus/gastroenteritis including rest home residents.

"We urge you to attempt to manage your patients within your facilities or at home and not to send them to hospital unless it is absolutely necessary," she said in a memo today to rest homes and GPs.

- NZHERALD STAFF