Rosebank wing closes at Caithness General Hospital following norovirus outbreak
CAITHNESS General Hospital has been forced to close one of its wards to new admissions after a number of patients came into contact with what is believed to be norovirus, better known as the winter vomiting bug.
NHS Highland confirmed today (Friday) that the Rosebank ward was forced shut on Wednesday night.
Five patients and seven staff were affected.
As of Friday morning only two patients were still showing symptoms along with one member of staff who has been ordered to stay at home. Four other members of staff are awaiting 48-hour clearance before being allowed to return to work.
A spokeswoman for NHS Highland said that the ward will remain shut until they are confident that the virus is no longer present.
"We cannot open the ward until we are sure that the norovirus has been eradicated," she said.
"What we can confirm is that as of Friday morning the virus seems to have been contained as there have been no new cases since Thursday."
Norovirus causes diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting and spreads in the air. It is extremely difficult to contain.
