Gastro-intestinal outbreak at Grand River Hospital’s Freeport Campus

Grand River Hospital has declared an outbreak of a gastro-intestinal illness in its specialized mental health unit at the Freeport Campus.

Mark Karjaluoto with the hospital says ten patients have symptoms that are consistent with a stomach virus.

“We have these outbreaks that appear from time to time, and it’s believed to basically be a stomach virus. About 10 patients currently have symptoms that are consistent with a stomach virus– vommiting, nausea, diarrhea– so for their protection and the protection of others we have declared an outbreak in cooperation with the Region of Waterloo Public Health.”

Karjaluoto adds that the hospital will be taking steps to manage the situation.

” We will treat the patients that have the virus, isolate those patients, limit visitation so the virus doesn’t spread and aggressively clean the unit.”

Karjaluoto adds that a unit is monitoring the situation, but the outbreak will not be lifted until the hospital has been free of new cases of the virus for five days.

“If you’re coming to visit, make sure you’re feeling well first. If you have a cold, influenza or stomach bug– stay home. If you are visiting the hospital, wash your hands before you have any contact with a patient, also continue washing them afterwards.”

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