What you need to know about the Norovirus Outbreak at RMH
March 12, 2018 – Last week, outbreaks were declared on two inpatient units at the Ross Memorial Hospital after several patients and healthcare providers became ill with nausea, diarrhea, stomach cramps and headache.
Control measures and visitor restrictions (except in special circumstances) have been put into place on:
- The 3rd Floor Medical Unit (this does NOT include the Intensive Care Unit, the Health First area, or Parkway Nuclear)
- The 1st Floor Continuing Care Unit (this does NOT include the Palliative/Complex Care Unit or the Sleep Lab)
All other areas of the Hospital, including outpatient clinics, are functioning normally and visiting is still permitted.
All who come to the Hospital are encouraged to clean their hands often, and to avoid visiting if you are feeling unwell.
The Hospital is taking special measures to control the spread of the illness, including heightened attention to personal protective equipment (PPE) and special cleaning procedures. Patients will not be admitted to the affected Units, nor will patients be transferred from the Units unless clinically required.
It’s believed the illness causing the outbreak is Norovirus, which has an incubation period of two to three days. People are contagious as long as their symptoms persist.