The gastrointestinal outbreak at a local hospital has been declared over.
On June 29, an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness was declared on the inpatient unit at St. Marys Memorial Hospital. At that time, the Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance asked staff and visitors to take necessary steps to stop the spread of the illness.
The virus responsible for the outbreak was identified as the norovirus. Norovirus is commonly referred to as the stomach flu and causes an infection in the stomach and intestines. This infection is not caused by the influenza virus.
As of July 6, the outbreak is officially over. St. Marys Memorial Hospital is reminding everyone to continue to wash their hands often and refrain from visiting the hospital to visit someone if you are feeling unwell.
“The impact on our patients, their families and on our entire health care team during an outbreak is significant,” shared Erica Jensen, Manager Quality, Patient Safety and Infection Control. “Being able to declare the outbreak over is a testament to our team’s dedication and commitment to ensuring a safe environment and I thank all for their efforts. Hand washing really is key to in helping to prevent the spread of illnesses.”