A ward at Wagga Base Hospital has been closed after an outbreak of gastro.
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The Murrumbidgee Local Health District has confirmed four patients in the hospital’s rehabilitation unit have now been been diagnosed with viral gastroenteritis.
The hospital has since placed the rehabilitation ward under quarantine and will admit no new patients to that ward until the outbreak has cleared.
Hospital management is also asking local residents to avoid visiting patients unless absolutely necessary to help reduce the risk of the outbreak spreading.
MLHD’s public health director Tony Burns said that, because there is no vaccine for gastro, prevention was the best medicine in this case.
“Viral gastroenteritis is highly contagious and spreads easily through hand to hand contact or by touching contaminated surfaces or objects,” Mr Burns said
"Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhoea, nausea, fever, abdominal pain, headache and muscle aches, and can take up to 72 hours to develop.
“It is very important to stay home from school or work for at least 48 hours after symptoms cease and that you don’t visit people in hospital or aged care facilities.”
MLHD has suggested the following tips to help you stay healthy throughout the winter months:
- Do not prepare food for others while you have gastroenteritis, or for at least 2 days after symptoms cease
- Wash hands with soap and water for at least 10 seconds before eating, or preparing food for oneself
- Wash hands with soap and water after using the toilet
- Immediately remove and wash clothing or bedding that may be contaminated with diarrhoea or vomit
- After an episode of vomiting or diarrhoea, clean the area with detergent and warm water and then disinfect contaminated surfaces
- Do not attend child care, school, aged care, hospitals or work for a minimum of 48 hours after diarrhoea or vomiting stops
