Vomiting bug still spreading at St Vincent's
The winter vomiting bug is continuing to spread at one of the country’s top hospitals with over 170 people struck down, it was confirmed today.
There have been 173 cases of the highly contagious virus at St Vincent’s University Hospital in Dublin – with 105 staff members affected, and 50% currently on sick leave.
In the past 24 hours around 10 new cases of the virus have been confirmed.
Out of the 173 cases, around 28 people are still showing symptoms of the bug.
Practically all ward areas, including parts of the Emergency Department, have been affected.
In a bid to help curtail the spread of the virus, the hospital is appealing to the public not to attend the Emergency Department if only complaining of the effects of the virus as it can spread to other, more seriously ill, patients.
The hospital is also asking the public to avoid visiting patients: where visits need to take place, these will be strictly curtailed and visits by children are suspended.
The outbreak of the virus is affecting bed allocation and admissions through the Emergency Department.
The hospital confirmed around 50 elective procedures were deferred due to the virus. It is expected the majority of non-emergency operations will be deferred again this week.
