Illness Outbreak, Ward Closed To Admissions

February 25, 2013

The Bermuda Hospitals Board today [Feb 25] confirmed that it has closed Gordon Ward to all admissions and only essential visitors are to be given access due to an outbreak of vomiting and diarrhea that has affected 17 people thus far.

“While the illness is unpleasant, patients are expected to recover after a few days and incidents to date are restricted to the one ward,” a BHB spokesperson said.

“An investigation is currently underway to identify the illness. The outbreak started over the weekend and to date twelve patients, one visitor, three staff members and one medical officer have been affected.”

Vice President of Quality & Risk Management, Preston Swan, comments: “Strict infection prevention and control protocols have been implemented on Gordon Ward.

“These include isolating patients until they have been symptom free for 48 hours, the wearing of gloves, gowns and masks by all staff and visitors when with patients who are ill, an increased cleaning schedule, and restricting staff who work on the ward from working in any other areas.

“We ask the community to co-operate with our protocols and avoid visiting if possible. They should only visit loved ones on the ward if it is urgent and as long as they themselves do not feel unwell.“

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  1. Gordon Ward Remains Closed To Admissions | Bernews.com | February 27, 2013
  1. Jmccarron says:

    Test.

  2. DJ says:

    They Just Cant get it right down there!
    Where is wonder woman Arlene when we need her?
    Oh dont forget…Vanetta is on the Job!

  3. ggurl says:

    God Bless Bermuda ! Keep your watch over our people dear lord..

  4. e says:

    This happened to my father while he was staying in KEMH two years ago. His roommate had a highly contagious gastritous virus with the same symptoms of diaahrea/vomiting etc. It came to light that the roomates’ his wife had had the same virus the week before but had been placed in quarantine, he however was not. The nurse used their shared bathroom to clean up after the roommate – who was elderly and forced to wear diapers. Needless to say, my father caught the same virus and became horrendously ill.

    It’s not a secret how these viruses spread, it’s due to poor hygenic practices by the hospital staff.

    While I’m a supporter of the new hospital, it’s the staff that make the hospital – and if they’re not practicing due diligence then we’re all in trouble.

  5. tt says:

    Norovirus, sometimes known as the winter vomiting bug, is the most common stomach bug in the UK, affecting people of all ages.
    The virus, which is highly contagious, causes vomiting and diarrhoea. As there is no specific cure, you have to let it run its course, but it should not last more than a couple of days.

    http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/norovirus/pages/introduction.aspx

  6. Nuffin but de Truth! says:

    this is what happens when you drink too much plp kool aid

  7. knowthyself says:

    I contracted the nova-virus on my flight overseas last February. I either contracted it while inside the airplane bathroom or at the subway. I know they use gloves but you never know ;)

    The worse feeling you can possibly imagine….

    All I did was excrete, vomit and sleep for a whole week. I couldn’t even keep down water for god sakes.

    Lucky I had my ace-girl to take care of me.

  8. JONO says:

    I work on Gordon Ward and was very very impressed with the very quick action of the Unit’s managers….and the infection control department…the outbreak is not very severe primarily due to the very quick acton of all involved…those visiting family and friends might likely be the primary cause of this minor outbreak…

  9. Don't get it says:

    Don’t always blame the nurses, in the old days there were strict visiting hours and the were enforced. Nowadays you can get on a ward almost always and no one says a word. How about allowing only 2 visitors at a time again, and not the whole clan of distant cousins with their brood of children at one time. We should have respect for the people that are sick and the less germs that enter a ward the better.

    • LOL (original TM*) says:

      Nope the cleaning staff was not as through on that ward I know I was there 2 days before the thing hit and I know how and who brought it there. Once again I’m saying that you need butter cleaning habits to the staff on that ward. Will anything be done about it? Minister?

      LOL

  10. Islander says:

    I know all about cleaning expertise at KEMH – why they won’t invest in steam cleaners down there – same water, same mop and using a disinfectant that is as weak as pee. Why not use dettol – the smell will not harm anybody or cause allergies to flare up. Same cloth is used to wipe the beds down, the window sills and so forth and again, same water.

    I was having a surgical procedure done at Lahey and while waiting in the pre-op room, a patient was taken into Surgery and a cleaner came with a bucket of hot water with disinfectant, a white mop and cleaned the entire area and then before the bed came in, he steam cleaned the floor, walls behind the bed. Another bed was put in place of the other one and wiped down with disinfectant cloths, the sheets, pillow and blankets were in foil type wrap. KEMH could learn a lot from those hospitals.