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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, November 14, 2013 | 4 GI outbreak restricts visiting at OTMH medical unit by John Bkila Oakville Beaver Staff Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital (OTMH) is restricting the number of visitors to one of its medical wards after an outbreak of acute gastrointestinal (GI) illnesses this week. At approximately 4:55 p.m. Tuesday, Halton Healthcare Services (HHS) put out a message on its Twitter account (@ HaltonHlthcare) stating visiting to the 4E medical unit at OTMH was being restricted to immediate family only after an increase in acute GI cases, whose symptoms include a combination of nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. The outbreak designation, and subsequent visiting restriction issued, came about after the total number of GI cases this week grew to 11, which included a new diagnosis yesterday (Wednesday), according to Dr. Neil Rau, HHS medical director of infection prevention and control. "Usually, you'll have some people who have nausea, diarrhea or are vomiting in a hospital ward on any given day, but when you start to see a cluster of patients coming Usually, you'll have some people who have nausea, diarrhea or are vomiting in a hospital ward on any given day, but when you start to see a cluster of patients coming down sick simultaneously... we call that an enteric outbreak. 3 Course Dinner $35 $5 from every MoMenu order goes to Movember charities in supporting research, awareness and survivorship of men's cancer and mental health across Canada and the globe. Movember Special Menu Halton Healthcare Services medical director of infection prevention and control Dr. Neil Rau, Mississauga's Favourite Italian Cuisine 1715 Lakeshore Rd. W., Clarkson 905.822.5751 Book Your Holiday Season Event Now! Monday: 5~9 Tuesday - Friday: Lunch & Dinner Saturday - Sunday: Dinner Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital has restricted visiting to a ward in one of its medical units in the wake of an outbreak of gastro-intestinal (GI) illness. | Oakville Beaver file photo down sick simultaneously... we call that an enteric outbreak," said the physician, noting the most common cause can be a norovirus, commonly known as a stomach flu. Rau confirmed yesterday, the cause of the outbreak was a norovirus. He also noted he had excluded Clostridium difficile (or C. difficile) in many of the cases. "We're a little out of season for it, but there are sporadic problems with norovirus in the community even out of the typical season, which is Christmas-time and winter. But we see Official on p.10 Visit us online at www.michaelsbackdoor.com Voted the Best in Oakville We Invite you to find out why! Call today for your personal tour. We'd love to have you join us! Retirement Living 380 Sherin Drive, Oakville, Ontario (905) 847-1413 www.vistamere.ca At Its Best