Eight people have been affected by an outbreak at Vernon Jubilee Hospital.
A gastrointestinal illness, or GI, outbreak was declared on Sunday at VJH.
“To date, the illness has affected six patients and two staff members,” said Richard Harding, Interior Health’s acute health services administrator.
“There have been no new cases reported since Dec. 11. In order for an outbreak to be declared over, there must be no new case declared for 96 hours. If there are no new cases this outbreak will be declared over on Friday.”
The impacted area is limited to the inpatient psychiatry unit.
Meanwhile hospital staff are following guidelines outlined in the Interior Health Outbreak Management Response Plan, which include:
– Closing admissions to the impacted unit
– Closing the central dining area in the impacted unit
– Signage posted at hospital and impacted unit entrances
– Patient nursing care delivered in their rooms
– Enhanced environmental cleaning
– Rescheduling of group activities during outbreak
The public is advised that to prevent the spread of the virus, or if you have any GI symptoms do not visit the hospital as a visitor.
“Frequent hand-washing is the best tool to fight the spread of illness,” said Harding.
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An outbreak has been listed at an Okanagan hospital.
Interior Health reported an outbreak at Vernon Jubilee Hospital Monday. It is listed as a gastrointestinal illness in the inpatient psychiatry unit.
Gastrointestinal illness (GI) is generally caused by viruses and bacteria, and occasionally from the toxins created by bacteria.
GI is spread from person to person through stool or vomit of infected people. People can become infected by eating contaminated food or touching contaminated surfaces and then placing their hands in their mouth. These micro organisms can live on surfaces (such as countertops, doorknobs and toilet seats), so can easily be spread when a person touches something contaminated.
“Remember to wash your hands frequently,” Interior Health urges.
Gastrointestinal illness can cause a variety of symptoms including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, muscle aches, headache, weakness, low grade fever or a combination of these symptoms.
For more information visit https://www.interiorhealth.ca/YourEnvironment/CommunicableDiseaseControl/Pages/default.aspx
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