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  • Lessons learnt.

    Valuable lessons gleaned from norovirus

    22 March 2006 <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=5 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD height=5></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>By NAOMI MITCHELL

    Lessons learnt from the suspected norovirus outbreak that closed Nelson College last Friday will be vital in coping with a bird flu pandemic, health officials say.
    Nelson Marlborough District Health Board primary and community general manager Peter Burton said while a flu pandemic would be "a lot more widespread", the norovirus outbreak was a good indication of what might happen.
    The outbreak highlighted the need to keep away from others if you were sick, wash and dry hands often and stay away from the emergency department unless it was an emergency, he said.
    It also emphasised the need for people who take care of themselves or sick people at home, to have adequate supplies of paracetamol, food, water and tissues, he said.
    Public Health and schools worked very well together during the outbreak, he said.
    "It is exactly what we would hope is the case with a pandemic influenza."
    Mr Burton was surprised at the amount of media interest the outbreak created, but said it highlighted a need to keep people informed.
    "The need to communicate well during an influenza pandemic about what is going on, and what to do, is a fundamental part."
    Norovirus is highly contagious.
    People can be infected through direct contact with another person who is sick, through eating contaminated food, or touching surfaces and objects contaminated with the virus.

    Nelson general medical practitioners' spokesman Graham Loveridge said there was one important message people should have learnt from the outbreak: "wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands".
    "All the drugs in the world won't be a match for the very basics."
    Nelson College headmaster Salvi Gargiulo said the pupils had learnt "first hand" the need to stay away from school if they were sick, to avoid spreading the virus.
    They had also learnt the importance of regular hand-washing. The school has permanently installed anti-bacterial hand gel dispensers, which Mr Gargiulo said students were now using frequently.
    "It is how we can stop these things spreading. It is the same with all the bugs."
    Laboratory results indicating whether the outbreak was caused by norovirus are expected later this week.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/nelsonmail/0,2106,3612522a6510,00.html


    Last edited by Extra; March 22, 2006, 10:26 AM. Reason: formatting only
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