Raigmore ward still closed after norovirus outbreak
A surgical ward at Raigmore Hospital, Inverness, remains closed to new admissions following to an outbreak of the winter vomiting bug, norovirus.
NHS managers shut down Ward 3A on Tuesday and the total number of patients affected is six with three still showing symptoms..
The virus, which causes diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting, spreads in the air where someone has had diarrhoea or vomited and is extremely difficult to contain.
Dr Emma Watson, Consultant Microbiologist for NHS Highland, said: “We know that norovirus is out there in the community and it is likely it has been brought into the hospital.
“As well as restricting visiting to the affected ward we are also asking people not to come to the hospital to visit if they have had any vomiting or diarrhoea within the previous 48hrs. By doing this we will be able to limit the spread as much as possible.
“Hospital staff will of course be very happy to talk to visitors on the phone so they can get updates on how their relatives are.”
There is no specific treatment for diarrhoea and vomiting of this kind and it is not usually necessary to visit a doctor. The best course of action is to stay at home, take paracetamol to relieve symptoms of any fever and to drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration. People should also adhere to strict hand washing techniques to reduce the spread of the virus.
