A ward at Whangarei Hospital has been closed down for the second time in two weeks following the outbreak of gastroenteritis.
Three patients from Ward 15 have been isolated with the virus and staff are urging members of the public with gastroenteritis-like symptoms not to visit patients in hospital, or to call ahead for advice if they do need to visit.
Northland DHB's chief medical advisor Gloria Johnson said it was extremely frustrating the ward had to close again following an earlier norovirus outbreak which began on July 28 and finished on Friday.
"This is a new outbreak of illness as patients within the ward had been symptom free for over seventy two hours.
"Ward 15 is closed to new medical admissions and visitors will be restricted to two adult visitors per patient each visit. Children should not visit and visitors are required to wear protective clothing and engage in hand hygiene precautions," Dr Johnson said.
