An outbreak of norovirus in Oamaru that started last month and appeared to be easing this week has hit again, with Oamaru Hospital handling three patients at the emergency department on Tuesday night and one yesterday.
The Oamaru Hospital has so far handled about 20 patients and had 18 staff affected, with some reports to the Southern District Health Board also coming from rest-homes.
The highly infectious virus can cause either violent diarrhoea or vomiting, or both.
Because it is so contagious, Oamaru Hospital has to place patients in isolation, causing considerable extra work for staff.
Nursing-quality co-ordinator at the hospital Dawn Kidd said yesterday that on Tuesday she thought the outbreak was easing.
"That was until we treated three patients at the emergency department on Tuesday night," she said.
Another patient arrived at the department yesterday.
However, no staff were affected.
The virus usually lasts about 24 hours, but it is 48 hours after that patients can be cleared.
Asked how to avoid it, Mrs Kidd said "Handwash, handwash, wash."
The virus can be transmitted from things as diverse as toilets and supermarket trolley handles.
Affected areas can be cleaned with white methylated spirits or bleach.
Mrs Kidd said there had been no cross-infection within the hospital.
Two samples last week were confirmed as being norovirus.
