Galway Advertiser 2002/2002_04_25/GA_25042002_E1_005.pdf 

Extracted text

OPERATIONS AS T U M M Y

CANCELLED B U G BITES

SAVE M O R E A T JOYCES. !

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BY MARY O'CONNOR FAMILIES AND friends are being asked to nominate one person to visit a patient on behalf of others as part of a drive to prevent the further spread of the highly infectious winter vomiting bug at UCHG. It has resulted in the cancellation of most outpatient clinics and planned procedures until the end of the week. There have been 19 suspected cases of the gastro-enteritis type virus in different areas of the west's biggest hospital recently. Some 10 cases of the suspected small round structured virus (SRSV as it is officially known) were recorded at the psychiatric unit, located at the rear of UCHG. about a month ago. All elective (planned) procedures and outpatient clinics, except for paediatrics and ante-natal clinics, have been cancelled until the end of the week, explained a spokesperson for the Western Health Board. She stressed that all urgent and emergency work will continue at the hospital and that the Accident and Emergency unit is open. She a p p e a l e d to the public not to visit the hospital u n l e s s it is essential. "We are a s k i n g the public to co-operate with us by restricting visits to essential ones to minimise the risk of the virus being spread. We w o u l d also s u g g e s t that i n s t e a d of groups of people visiting a patient that one person is nominated to visit on behalf of others. We are asking any visitors to wear protective c l o t h i n g a n d g l o v e s , w h i c h we will supply, and a l s o n o t t o visit other patients in other parts of the hospital. We a p p r e c i a t e this is very difficult for p a t i e n t s , families, r e l a t i v e s and friends." She also r e q u e s t e d people in the community w h o may b e suffering from vomiting and diarrhoea not to visit the hospital in case they may have the virus. An o u t b r e a k control team is in place at UCHG, she said, a n d infection control m e a s u r e s are in o p e r a t i o n . " We a r e continually reviewing and monitoring the situation." She explained that the winter vomiting bug is a mild, unpleasant illness which lasts two to three days. Its symptoms are nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. There is no need to take antibiotics because they will not be effective. However, people are encouraged to take fluids. The virus is highly infectious and easily spread. It is not transferred by coughing but can be carried on clothes. She emphasised the importance of washing one's hands as a means of preventing the spread of the virus.

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