Norovirus in new outbreak in New Zealand
Pastor Dale Morgan
Norovirus in new outbreak in New Zealand*
2008-08-29
WELLINGTON, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- One more patient fell ill to the
contagious norovirus at southern New Zealand's Dunedin Hospital
overnight Thursday, Otago District Health Board operations manager Megan
Boivin said.
Nineteen patients in 10 wards appeared to have contracted norovirus
in a new outbreak of the virus in the past couple of days, the Otago
Daily Post reported on Friday.
The original outbreak three weeks ago affected more than 170 staff
and patients and to a lockdown at the hospital with a ban on visitors.
Boivin said the hospital had been working vigorously to contain the
illness, including changing the air conditioning from recirculating air
to bringing in fresh air.
The Dunedin Hospital was turning to other hospitals and
infection-control specialists for help as it continued to struggle with
more cases of norovirus.
Last week, three wards at the hospital were closed for admissions as
the number of new norovirus cases mounted daily.
Nearly 200 patients and staff have fallen ill with the virus since
the first outbreak on Aug. 4