Norovirus scare in Limburg hospital
The Genk Hospital reports an outbreak of the contagious norovirus in its geriatric department. Part of the hospital has been put under quarantine.
A Norovirus infection can cause a sudden onset of vomiting and diarrhea. The norovirus is highly contagious and is often spread through food or water that is contaminated during preparation or via contaminated surfaces. Patients can also be infected through close contact with an infected person.
It is not a deadly virus, but it may be dangerous for people with a lower resistance, such as older people. Staff and visitors should take extra care to prevent more people from being infected, says Genk hospital spokesman Jurgen Ritzen. "This involves an even stricter hand hygiene, among other things", he told the VRT's regional radio station Radio 2. This being said, visitors are still allowed. "But we do ask people who are showing symptoms at home, to cancel their visit."