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A stomach virus that causes vomiting and diarrhoea has been found
in other hospitals across the South West and affected more than
300 people in one city.
Torbay Hospital is the latest to discover the Norwalk Virus. Four
wards have been isolated and 30 staff and patients have been affected
in the Bay.
Torbay consultant
microbiologist Dr Paul Turner says that it is quite unusual for
this virus to take hold during the summer. It is normally more usual
during the winter months.
In Plymouth,
at Derriford Hospital, where the virus was first detected, more
than 320 cases have been confirmed, including more than 100 in staff.
Nine wards are
closed out of a total of 30 and all routine operations have been
postponed.
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Under
the microscope - the Norwalk virus
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Two wards have
also been closed at
the city's Mount Gould Hospital.
Outbreak control
teams have been meeting daily to review the situation.
The bug lasts
up to 48 hours and is transmitted by air and on food.
A spokesperson
for Derriford Hospital, said: "We have closed nine wards here at
the site. The problem is because of the incubation periods. There
may be other patients incubating. We hope to now have it under control,
but the next 24 to 48 hours will be critical."
Dr David Dance, consultant microbiologist at Derriford, said: "The
continuing spread of this virus is disappointing, but not surprising.
Staff are under extreme pressure and working very hard to contain
the outbreak in what are very difficult circumstances."
A Norwalk-like virus has also been detected at the Royal Cornwall
Hospital in Treliske. Some 10 patients are said to have developed
similar symptoms there.
For those suffering
at home, GPs have advised that those ill should stop trying to eat
and just have little sips of water, even if they carry on being
sick just to carrry on taking little sips of water.
After 24 hrs,
they can increase the intake to squashes or fizzy drinks. Doctors
say it is probably best to stay off milk products.
All affected
wards are being thoroughly disinfected and will be re-opened as
soon as possible.
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