Norovirus Shuts down 2 Hospital Wards in England
http://topnews.us/content/245237-norovirus-shuts-bedford-and-northwick-park-hospital-wards
Norovirus strikes again and is suspected of causing serious problems in Bedford and Northwick hospitals in England to the point of having to shut down 82 beds out of 500 in the Northwick Hospital. Similar problems occurred in Belford Hospital which resulted in closing the Richard Wells Ward. Concerns of rapidly spreading Norovirus (which is a highly contagious) pushed authorities in making that decision. Visitation restrictions are also in place allowing only one visitor per patient. Officials advise anyone who has symptoms of diarrhea or vomiting to stay home and contact their healthcare provider.
Norovirus is an airborne pathogen and can spread by person to person contact, contact with surfaces infected with the virus and from Norovirus “particles carried in the air” (stated in the article’s last paragraph).
Symptoms of Norovirus may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Additional symptoms may also include headache, weakness, muscle aches, and even a low grade fever.
Common places known to have rapid outbreaks of Norovirus are long term nursing facilities, cruise ships, hospitals, prisons, and any other places of assembly or grouped living quarters, such as college dorms.
The best lines of defense should include hand washing especially after using the toilet and before eating or preparing food, surface cleaning and sanitation, and air purification using photocatalytic oxidation.