A number of Greater Victoria care homes and one hospital unit are battling outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness among residents, patients and staff, Island Health reports.
The health authority declared a new outbreak at Beacon Hill Villa, 635 Superior St., on Tuesday, bringing to four the number of facilities dealing with the illness.
An outbreak was declared Monday at Victoria General Hospital, where six patients fell ill on one unit.
Island Health said people entering hospital rooms are required to wear gowns, gloves and a mask. Signs are posted to alert visitors and the hospital has enhanced cleaning procedures.
Norovirus has been confirmed as the agent in one of the outbreaks at Selkirk Place, 385 Waterfront Cr., while tests are pending at the other facilities.
“This is not an unusual level of activity for noro-like illnesses,” Sarah Plank, Island Health’s manager of media relations, said in an email.
She said the B.C. Centre for Disease Control reports increasing noro-like illnesses across the province and noted that other health regions are dealing with similar outbreaks.
Selkirk Place, which dealt with a major outbreak of norovirus last summer, is among the hardest hit. Plank said 61 of 217 residents at the seniors’ facility have been sick with norovirus since the latest outbreak was declared on Dec. 19.
The illness also struck 35 of 300 staff at Selkirk Place.
“There have been deaths in the facility in December, as there are on an ongoing basis at any residential care facility, but none have been reported as due to noro-like illness to date,” Plank said.
Norovirus affected about 100 patients and 50 staff at Selkirk Place last summer. Island Health did not link any of the nine deaths at the facility to norovirus, but acknowledged that the number during the outbreak was three times higher than average.
The Times Colonist later learned that the death of an 87-year-old woman was directly attributed to norovirus by her doctor on the death certificate.
The latest outbreaks also affect Luther Court, 1525 Cedar Hill X Rd., where 16 of 60 residents and six staff fell ill, while two of 80 residents and one staff member are sick at Beacon Hill Villa.
A fifth outbreak, at Central Care Home, 844 Johnson St., was declared over on Tuesday.
Plank said health officials have also noticed people showing up in hospital emergency departments complaining of vomiting and diarrhea symptoms that could be treated at home by drinking plenty of fluids and getting lots of rest.
If someone shows signs of dehydration, or has been sick for more than 48 hours, they should contact their doctor or phone 811 for help assessing their condition.
“If a person becomes severely dehydrated, they should seek emergency care,” Plank said.
Island Health advises people with gastrointestinal symptoms to avoid visiting anyone in hospital or a seniors’ home.
Family members should consider postponing visits to a facility dealing with a norovirus outbreak.
“If they do visit, they should check with the facility and follow the necessary infection control procedures, especially hand-washing,” Plank said.
