Thames Hospital update

Eleven Thames Hospital staff, six inpatients and two relatives are now ill with diarrhoea and vomiting.

The cases - seven more than yesterday - are highly contagious and are in isolation.

The hospital is operating normally although acting manager Rodger Clark said a number of people were ringing to see if it was still open.

"We have said that elective services and clinics are continuing as normal," he said.

"All we are asking is that patients suffering from diarrhoea and vomiting do not present at the hospital unless they have complicating factors."

Infection controls continue to be in place at the hospital.

The recommendation is to wash your hands regularly and a hand hygiene campaign used at Waikato Hospital is in use at Thames.

Preventing dehydration is the main treatment in the initial stages of diarrhoea.

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
• 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: 14 January 2010

Mary Anne Gill
Director
Media and Communications
Waikato District Health Board
P.O. Box 934
Hamilton 3240
Ph: 07 834 3684
Mobile: 021 705 213