Three wards at a hospital in south-west London have been closed in response to an outbreak of the winter vomiting bug known as norovirus.
St George’s Hospital in Tooting announced that it would also restrict admissions and transfers in certain bays or wards to minimize the chances of the infection spreading.
Health authorities are encouraging individuals to thoroughly wash their hands with soap and water to help contain the outbreak, as new figures from NHS England indicate that cases of this highly contagious virus are on the rise.
“Once norovirus infiltrates a hospital, it can spread rapidly through our wards, exacerbating the condition of patients,” stated Prof. Arlene Wellman, the group chief nurse at St George’s Hospital.
Typically, norovirus symptoms persist for two to three days; however, individuals can remain contagious for up to 72 hours even after their symptoms have ceased.
Common signs of the virus include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, but it can also lead to a high fever, headaches, abdominal pain, body aches, and occasional chills.
“We are taking extensive measures to curb the outbreak, but your assistance is vital,” Prof. Wellman emphasized.
“Hand sanitizers, such as alcohol-based gels, are ineffective against this virus – proper handwashing with soap and water can significantly affect whether we can fill our beds with patients in need or have them remain empty during a critical time.”
