Noro virus is rampant in Munich clinic

80 people in Munich suffering from the dangerous norovirus

06/22/2011

The hospital in Munich, Rechts am Isar, is currently rife with Norovirus infectious disease. According to the clinic's management, 80 people have already become infected. In addition to patients and nursing staff, doctors are also affected.

Severe diarrhea, combined with nausea and vomiting, is currently affecting 80 people at the Klinikum Rechts an der Isar in the Bavarian capital of Munich. Not only patients but also employees and doctors have been infected with the viral disease. However, so far there are no significant complications, the course of the infectious disease is currently „very easy“, as a spokesman for the clinic emphasized. Since Thursday last week, first patients had complained about typical complaints. Initially, EHEC infection was ruled out and noroviruses detected. Meanwhile, the complaints and the wave of illness sound again. Last Tuesday, 45 patients, 18 caregivers and two nurses as well as two doctors were ill. Already on Wednesday there were only 3 patients and three hospital employees.

Employee trapped an infection
The hospital management suspects that a clinic employee has introduced the Norovirus. The clinic regulation prescribes that diseased employees should not go to work in order not to infect patients. However, the person concerned felt only a slight nausea and therefore regularly went to work. A viral infection could thus not determine the staff. Norovirus infections are notifiable under the German Infection Protection Act. Meanwhile, the hospital announced that since the wave of infection, the hygiene measures have been tightened. For the regular measures such as hand washing, more intensive disinfection was ordered. In addition, the infected patients have been isolated so that the highly contagious virus can not spread further.

Noroviruses mainly spread in community facilities
The infection rate of norovirus infections is particularly high in community settings. Especially nursing homes, kindergartens, schools but also hospitals are repeatedly affected by outbreaks. The pathogens are transmitted by droplets and smear infections. The most common mode of transmission is the defecation and vomiting of the patient. In addition, the viruses can also be absorbed via the respiration, since exhaled infected aerosols. In addition, if poor basic hygiene prevails, the viral pathogens can spread over contaminated furnishings, food and beverages.

Typical norovirus symptoms
The relative incubation time after infection is hardly more than 50 hours. Those affected suffer from severe diarrhea, nausea and vomiting as well as severe abdominal pain. A minimal infective dose of 10 to 100 virus particles is sufficient to cause the symptoms described. After a good three days, the symptoms disappear again. The primary goal of the treatment is to compensate for the loss of electrolyte and liquid in order to avoid internal dehydration. (Sb)

Also read:
Noro virus on the rise?
Norovirus cases not uncommon
Health: Season of norovirus infections

Image: Gerd Altmann, Pixelio.de