Norwalk Virus Outbreak Closes Canadian Hospital
Pastor Dale Morgan
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Norwalk Virus Outbreak Closes Canadian Hospital*
Updated Sun. Nov. 19 2006 9:38 AM ET
Canadian Press
CANADA- GRAND FALLS-WINDSOR, N.L. -- A hospital in central Newfoundland
has closed its doors to visitors after reporting cases of the Norwalk virus.
The Central Newfoundland Regional Health Centre in Grand Falls-Windsor
started banning visitors on Friday after cases were reported in the
hospital and in the community.
Hospital officials expected to decide Monday whether the restrictions
would be lifted.
Similar restrictions have been put in place at the Carmelite Seniors
Home, though no cases of Norwalk have been detected at the facility.
Symptoms range from nausea and diarrhea to dehydration.
The virus spreads easily and can survive up to 12 hours on surfaces such
as toilets and sinks.
A hospital in Digby, N.S., reported several cases of the virus earlier
this month.
In October, there were outbreaks of the virus at two Maritime universities.