New Zealand - Norovirus 2011 - 2 deaths

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Viral bug lays ferry staff low

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CHERIE HOWIE
Last updated 12:00 06/04/2011

More than 20 Interislander ferry staff have fallen ill with suspected gastroenteritis, prompting KiwiRail to warn staff and passengers to take care with their hygiene.

KiwiRail spokeswoman Cathie Bell said 22 cases of suspected gastroenteritis had been reported among Kaitaki staff, including two people who had been sick twice, while three cases had been reported on the Aratere.
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The outbreak began less than a week ago and was reported to Greater Wellington Regional Public Health on Saturday, Ms Bell said. Staff had been warned to be vigilant about hygiene and notices warning of the health risk had been posted on crew noticeboards and in public areas.

The ships had been subject to "deep cleans" and unwell staff had been quarantined in their cabins.

Full text:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/marlborough-express/news/4853604/Viral-bug-lays-ferry-staff-low

 

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Re: New Zealand - Norovirus 2011

Re: New Zealand - Norovirus 2011

Norovirus hits Northland rest homes

By Mike Dinsdale
2:44 PM Wednesday May 4, 2011

Excerpt:

Northland DHB's medical officer of health Jonathan Jarman said an estimated 200 people had been diagnosed with suspected viral gastroenteritis since April 20.

The virus is suspected to be norovirus and lab results due later this week are expected to confirm it, Dr Jarman said.

The outbreak was first notified at Whangarei's Jane Mander Retirement Village, with about 144 residents and staff affected.

Dr Jarman said since then other cases have been notified at Kamo Home and Village, Puriri Court and Parahaki Court in Whangarei and Radius Baycare Home and Hospital at Haruru Falls.

Full text:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/health/news/article.cfm?c_id=204&objectid=10723379

 

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Re: New Zealand - Norovirus 2011

Re: New Zealand - Norovirus 2011

Norovirus still a concern in Wellington

Newstalk ZB May 6, 2011, 12:57 pm

Excerpt:

Medical Officer for Regional Public Health Dr Jill McKenzie says outbreaks of the virus are still of concern to health officials.

She says seven outbreaks have been reported in the past two weeks alone, in institutions such as rest homes and child-care centres.

http://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/top-stories/9327816/norovirus-still-a-concern-in-wellington/

 

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Re: New Zealand - Norovirus 2011 - 2 deaths

Norovirus kills two Northlanders: 280 infected


Mike Dinsdale | 11th May 2011

The deaths of two elderly rest home patients has been linked to a norovirus outbreak that has hit five Whangarei rest homes.

The outbreak of the highly-infectious gastroenteritis started at Jane Mander Retirement Village late last month with about 144 residents and staff affected, before spreading to Kamo Home and Village, Puriri Court and Parahaki Court in Whangarei and Shalom Aged Care in Kensington.

The outbreak at Jane Mander is now over, but Northland Medical Officer of Health Jonathan Jarman said the total number of affected people with confirmed or suspected norovirus gastroenteritis from the rest homes is 283, with two deaths linked to the disease.

More...
http://www.northernadvocate.co.nz/h...-kills-two-northlanders-280-infected/3951320/

 

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Re: New Zealand - Norovirus 2011 - 2 deaths

There is some form of gastroenteritis currently affecting students at a Christchurch school. This has not yet been reported by the mainstream press.

 

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Re: New Zealand - Norovirus 2011 - 2 deaths

Northland health authorities are battling to contain a widespread outbreak of the highly infectious norovirus, which has claimed the lives of two rest home residents.

So far, 301 people have displayed symptoms of norovirus, which has been found in six rest homes.

It is the worst outbreak in the area in 15 years.....
Full story: http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/5010469/Norovirus-outbreak-kills-two-in-Northland

 

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Re: New Zealand - Norovirus 2011 - 2 deaths

Norovirus find extends shellfish ban

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Last updated 13:43 30/05/2011

A ban on shellfish gathering in Whangarei harbour has been extended following the discovery of high levels of norovirus, which has been linked to the deaths of two Whangarei rest home patients.

The deaths are connected to an outbreak that is suspected to have affected 288 people in six Northland rest homes since starting at Jane Mander Retirement Village late last month.

More...
http://www.stuff.co.nz/marlborough-.../5074180/Norovirus-find-extends-shellfish-ban

 

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Re: New Zealand - Norovirus 2011 - 2 deaths

Norovirus warning for Christchurch shellfish
</FORM>Published: 9:16PM Thursday June 02, 2011 Source: Newstalk ZB

A norovirus warning has been issued for seafood lovers who collect shellfish from several river mouths around Christchurch.

Shellfish with extremely high levels of norovirus have been found in the Avon and Heathcote river mouths.

More...
http://tvnz.co.nz/health-news/norovirus-warning-christchurch-shellfish-4204696

 

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Re: New Zealand - Norovirus 2011 - 2 deaths

Suspected norovirus outbreak in Lower Hutt

Last updated 11:11 28/06/2011

The Woburn Masonic Village resthoom in Wai-iti Crescent, Lower Hutt has been affected by a suspected norovirus outbreak.

A spokesman for Regional Public Health said visiting had been restricted to the complex today after reports of vomiting and diarhoea among residents.
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The Dominion Post understands there are at least 12 people affected by the outbreak.

Full text:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/5201042/Suspected-norovirus-outbreak-in-Lower-Hutt

 

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Re: New Zealand - Norovirus 2011 - 2 deaths

Rest home hit by norovirus
By Susan Sandys July 13 2011

Ashburton.
Coldstream Rest Home and Hospital residents are confined to their bedrooms as staff attempt to eliminate norovirus.

About 10 of the facility's residents have been affected by the vomiting and diarrhoea bug, which hit on Friday.

Yesterday six remained unwell, and the latest case was of a resident who had succumbed overnight.

Two staff have also gone down with the highly infectious bug, putting more pressure on workers who remained on deck.

More...
http://www.ashburtonguardian.co.nz/news/ashburton-news/4650-rest-home-hit-by-norovirus.html

 

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Re: New Zealand - Norovirus 2011 - 2 deaths

Norovirus closes hospital ward

6:55 AM Friday Jul 29, 2011

A ward at Whangarei Hospital has been closed off and patients isolated after an outbreak of suspected norovirus, the Northland District Health Board, (DHB) says.

The DHB has urged members of the public with viral gastroenteritis-like symptoms not to visit patients in hospital, or to call ahead for advice if they did need to visit.

Laboratory results due next week were expected to confirm it was norovirus that had taken hold of the ward.

Four patients have been isolated and two staff are affected and Ward 15 is closed to new medical admissions, with visitor restrictions in place.

More...
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/health/news/article.cfm?c_id=204&objectid=10741429

 

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Re: New Zealand - Norovirus 2011 - 2 deaths

Norovirus confirmed in Whangarei Hospital ward

Fri, 29 Jul 2011
News: National

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A viral-gastroenteritis outbreak that has closed Ward 15 at Whangarei Hospital was confirmed today as norovirus.

The number of affected people with confirmed or suspected norovirus gastroenteritis is now eight - two confirmed patient cases, three suspected patient cases and three suspected staff cases.

Dr Gloria Johnson, Northland District Health Board's chief medical adviser, said norovirus was a highly infectious illness and sometimes being in the same room where someone had vomited was enough to catch the illness.

"We were fortunate that the illness outbreak was picked up and contained as early as it was by Ward 15 staff," she said.

More...
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/171250/norovirus-confirmed-whangarei-hospital-ward

 

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Re: New Zealand - Norovirus 2011 - 2 deaths

Norovirus ebbs in retirement village

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EVAN HARDING
Last updated 05:00 05/08/2011

A norovirus outbreak in an Invercargill retirement village has resulted in 163 people being struck down with the illness in recent weeks, but patients and staff are now on the mend, a health boss says.

Otago-Southland Medical Officer of Health Marion Poore said Public Health South had been working closely with the Rowena Jackson Retirement Village since the first case of norovirus came to its attention at the site on July 15.

Public Health South records showed 48 staff and 115 residents had been affected by the virus. But there were no new cases yesterday and the outbreak was coming under control, she said.

Village manager Trudy Shepard also said the situation was under control.
"I am very aware there are a lot of businesses in Invercargill that have the same virus and I am surprised you are focusing on one retirement village," she said.

"I think you need to talk to Public Health South about how prevalent this virus is in the community ? we are working very closely with Public Health South like, I suspect, a lot of other businesses are."

When asked whether the village was still locked down, Ms Shepard said "not in all areas", but declined to elaborate.

When asked whether any of the residents had died after contracting the norovirus, she said she was not prepared to answer the question.

More...
http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/5395729/Norovirus-ebbs-in-retirement-village

 

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Re: New Zealand - Norovirus 2011 - 2 deaths

Virus closes hospital ward again

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Last updated 10:40 09/08/2011

A ward at Whangarei Hospital has been closed for the second time in a fortnight by a potentially lethal virus.

Ward 15 was first affected by a norovirus outbreak on July 28. By last Friday it was declared over with no new infections for 48 hours.

However on Sunday three patients were affected by a new outbreak.

More...
http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/loc...ader/5408119/Virus-closes-hospital-ward-again

 

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Re: New Zealand - Norovirus 2011 - 2 deaths

Norovirus found in Canterbury rivers

9:34 AM Tuesday Sep 6, 2011

High levels of norovirus have been found in shellfish in Canterbury river mouths.

The contaminated shellfish are in areas around the river mouths of the Avon, Heathcote and other locations around the Avon-Heathcote Estuary.

More...
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/health/news/article.cfm?c_id=204&objectid=10749727

 

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Re: New Zealand - Norovirus 2011 - 2 deaths

Christmas party norovirus outbreak

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KATIE CHAPMAN
Last updated 17:32 16/12/2011

Twenty-two people were ill with norovirus after a work Christmas party at an Upper Hutt restaurant.

Wellington medical officer of health Margot McLean said 22 of 39 people who dined at the restaurant last Saturday night all became ill between 10 and 50 hours after the meal.

Some vomited while others had diarrhoea. Laboratory tests confirmed today the presence of norovirus.

More...
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/6153191/Christmas-party-norovirus-outbreak

 

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Re: New Zealand - Norovirus 2011 - 2 deaths

Virus outbreak locks down city rest home

Thursday, December 22, 2011

A VOMITING bug has broken out in Gisborne.

Leighton House rest home has been locked down three days before Christmas, due to an outbreak of norovirus. About 22 residents and three staff members have been affected.

It is thought the virus spread to the home when a resident caught the virus at a Christmas function last week. A number of other people attending the function also became unwell.

More...
http://www.gisborneherald.co.nz/article/?id=25856