Vomiting and diarrhoea close Raigmore Hospital ward after norovirus bug strikes
A WARD at Raigmore Hospital has been closed to new admissions after sickness and diarrhoea struck - with one patient testing positive for Norovirus and eight showing symptoms.
The closure affects Ward 2A.
Norovirus, which causes diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting, spreads in the air where someone has had diarrhoea or vomited and is extremely difficult to contain.
Dr Jonty Mills, Consultant Microbiologist for NHS Highland, said: “As well as restricting visiting to the affected ward we are also asking people not to come to the hospitals to visit if they have had any vomiting or diarrhoea within the previous 48 hours. 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 a norovirus infection 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.
For more information about hand hygiene visit the Scottish National Hand Hygiene Campaign website www.washyourhandsofthem.com.
