‘Spreads like wildfire’: Harsh vomiting bug rips through major hospital

An ‘abrupt and harsh’ winter vomiting bug has hit one of the state’s largest hospital with dozens of staff forced to stay home, a number of wards impacted and visitor access restricted.

An “abrupt and harsh” winter vomiting bug has hit one of the state’s largest hospital with the Mater confirming staff and patients have tested positive to norovirus, forcing ward closures and restricted visitor access.

A staff member has revealed to The Sunday Mail that more than 40 workers have been forced to stay home and three wards impacted.

A spokesman for the Mater Hospital in Brisbane said that the virus has not been linked to a food source within the hospital.

Infectious disease expert Paul Griffin.

“Stringent infection control measures have been introduced to minimise the risk of transmission. Affected wards have been temporarily closed to new admissions and visitor restrictions have been introduced,” he said.

‘Gastrointestinal diseases are always present in the community and are highly infectious,” he said.

Infectious disease expert Paul Griffin said the norovirus is the worst of the gastro bugs and can cause very severe vomiting and diarrhoea.

“Norovirus can appear anywhere, it is highly infectious. It is the bug that often spreads like wildfire on cruise ships and can wipe out aged care facilities and schools.

“Symptoms can come on abruptly and are very harsh. It is important if Queenslanders have these symptoms that they stay home,” Prof Griffin said.

He warns that norovirus could hit the Ekka if people don’t stay home.

“It rips through families and then into the wider community,” he said.

“Impeccable hygiene is required to keep the virus at bay.”

Queensland Health reports that noroviruses are a group of viruses that can cause gastroenteritis (inflammation of the stomach and intestines) with diarrhoea, stomach pain and vomiting. Common names used for gastroenteritis due to norovirus are ‘gastric flu’ or ‘stomach flu’, ‘winter vomiting’ and ‘viral gastro’.

Norovirus has ripped through the Mater Hospital.

People can become infected with the virus in several ways, including eating food or drinking liquids that are contaminated with norovirus, touching surfaces or objects contaminated with the virus and then placing their hand in their mouth, small airborne particles from projectile vomiting, having direct contact with another person who is infected and showing symptoms.

Symptoms of norovirus illness usually begin about 24 to 48 hours after ingestion of the virus, but they can appear as early as 12 hours after exposure. Dehydration can occur which may need special medical attention.

There are many different strains of norovirus, which makes it difficult for a person’s body to develop long-lasting immunity.