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Qld hospitals report norovirus outbreak</HEADLINE>
<!--articleExtras-wrap--><BOD>Queensland's health system is battling to cope with an outbreak of the highly infectious norovirus and anyone unwell or carrying the symptoms is being urged to stay away from hospitals.
The illness - which causes vomiting, diarrhoea, nausea, stomach cramps, a fever and headache - has swept through staff and patients at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital (RBWH) in recent weeks.
Gold Coast Hospital and the Cairns Base Hospital have also reported outbreaks of norovirus.
While staff are beginning to return to work at the RBWH, the hospital's acting clinical chief executive, Doctor Judy Graves, on Monday issued a plea to anyone unwell to postpone visits to the hospital.
"We apologise for any inconvenience but these measures are essential to help us control this virus while providing essential medical care to our patients," Dr Graves said.
Patients with norovirus at the RBWH have been isolated to protect staff, patients and visitors.
A Queensland health spokeswoman said the state's public hospitals were coping with the outbreak.
Staff at the Gold Coast and Cairns hospitals who had been infected were slowly returning to work.
Norovirus victims remain infectious for at least 72 hours after the symptoms have gone.
There is no antiviral medication or preventative vaccine for it.
To reduce the chances of infection, people are advised that before handling or eating food they thoroughly wash their hands after using the toilet or changing nappies.
http://www.theage.com.au/news/Nation...043023093.html
- July 23, 2007 - 6:24PM</DATE>
<!--articleExtras-wrap--><BOD>Queensland's health system is battling to cope with an outbreak of the highly infectious norovirus and anyone unwell or carrying the symptoms is being urged to stay away from hospitals.
The illness - which causes vomiting, diarrhoea, nausea, stomach cramps, a fever and headache - has swept through staff and patients at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital (RBWH) in recent weeks.
Gold Coast Hospital and the Cairns Base Hospital have also reported outbreaks of norovirus.
While staff are beginning to return to work at the RBWH, the hospital's acting clinical chief executive, Doctor Judy Graves, on Monday issued a plea to anyone unwell to postpone visits to the hospital.
"We apologise for any inconvenience but these measures are essential to help us control this virus while providing essential medical care to our patients," Dr Graves said.
Patients with norovirus at the RBWH have been isolated to protect staff, patients and visitors.
A Queensland health spokeswoman said the state's public hospitals were coping with the outbreak.
Staff at the Gold Coast and Cairns hospitals who had been infected were slowly returning to work.
Norovirus victims remain infectious for at least 72 hours after the symptoms have gone.
There is no antiviral medication or preventative vaccine for it.
To reduce the chances of infection, people are advised that before handling or eating food they thoroughly wash their hands after using the toilet or changing nappies.
http://www.theage.com.au/news/Nation...043023093.html
