Alberta Children’s Hospital hit by Norovirus outbreak
Posted Jul 4, 2010 11:09 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A Norovirus outbreak has hit the Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary.
The highly contagious illness causes diarrhea and vomiting.
Don Stewart, a spokesman with Alberta Health Services, tells 660News three children have tested positive for Norovirus and a fourth child has a suspect case.
Stewart says about 20 staff members have called in sick since the outbreak was first reported on Wednesday, but none of them are lab-confirmed cases.
The Norovirus outbreak is confined to two medical surgical units.
Enhanced cleaning procedures are in place and appear to be working. Only immediate family members can visit patients in the affected areas.
The hospital has had to use part-time staff to make up for the shortfall, but Stewart says patient care has not been impacted.
Stewart adds they haven’t had any new cases in the last 24 hours, so they’re hoping the illness is contained.
