Thames Hospital highly contagious

Thames Hospital has a number of cases of diarrhoea and vomiting and asks GPs and rest homes to manage patients within the community unless they are so ill they urgently need hospitalisation.

The cases are highly contagious. Staff implemented infection control measures and notified the Medical Officer of Health.

Thames Hospital is full and only admitting urgent cases.

Preventing dehydration is the main treatment in the initial stages of diarrhoea. Drink small amounts of clear, lightly sweetened fluid every hour. Ideal fluids include diluted lemonade and weak cordial.

Alternatively,you can buy a drink mixture at a pharmacy which replaces lost salts and sugar (oral rehydration solution).

It is very important to water down sugary drinks. Avoid tea, coffee or alcohol. Dehydration can cause serious problems, especially in babies, children, older adults and those with special health problems.

We also recommend people follow these basic principles:

• social distancing
• hand hygiene - wash your hands regularly and/or use Sterigel.
• cough and sneeze etiquette; and
• enhanced cleaning (using a bleach-based cleaning agent to kill viruses)
• putting away/enhanced cleaning of shared equipment, toys etc.
  

Date: 5 June 2009

Contact:

Mary Anne Gill
Director
Media and Communications
Waikato District Health Board
Ph: 07 834 3684
Fax: 07 839 8680
Mobile: 021 705 213