News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 9, 2010
MEDIA CONTACT: Joyce Brennan
Public Information Officer
Southcoast Health System
Phone: 508-961-5270
Fax: 508-961-5876
Pager: 508-387-9605
brennanj@southcoast.org
www.southcoast.org/news/releases/
Public message from Southcoast Hospitals regarding visitors to the
hospital
WAREHAM, Mass. — Southcoast Hospitals Group, which includes Charlton Memorial
Hospital in Fall River, St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford and Tobey Hospital in Wareham, is
asking that any person who has had any gastrointestinal or flu-like symptoms in the past 48 hours
refrain from visiting friends or family in the hospitals. These symptoms include nausea, vomiting,
diarrhea, abdominal cramps, headache, fever and chills and muscle aches.
Tobey Hospital specifically has seen an increase in patients with gastrointestinal
symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, since December 7, including a number of
inpatients and staff.
“Within the past 48 hours, a number of patients at Tobey Hospital have developed or
been admitted with symptoms of nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. At the present time, a norovirus
is suspected,” said Patrick Gannon, Chief Quality Officer for Southcoast Health System.
“Because the number of patients and employees with symptoms has increased over the past few
days, it is important that we take standard precautions to help stop the spread of the virus,
including issuing a public notice to all visitors and a reminder to our community on how to
prevent the spread of germs and disease.”
Gastrointestinal viruses, including noroviruses, are primarily spread via person-to-person
contact. There is no specific treatment beyond control of symptoms, which typically last for 24 to
48 hours. According to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, specific symptoms are
nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal cramps. Other symptoms include headache, fever,
chills and muscle aches. These symptoms begin one to two days after exposure to the virus and
typically last about one to two days for most. Most people do not need to seek further medical
care and should stay at home so as not to further spread the disease. If symptoms worsen a health
care provider should be sought.
The following are tips for preventing noroviruses:

Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water before eating or
preparing food, after using the toilet and after changing diapers.

Make sure all food preparation areas are clean before use.

Cook your food completely. Wash all fruits and vegetables.

After episodes of vomiting or diarrhea, clean contaminated surfaces immediately with a
bleach-based household cleaner.

If you are taking care of someone who has vomited or who has diarrhea, wash your hands
with plenty of soap and warm water after cleaning the bathroom, helping the person use
the toilet or changing diapers, soiled clothes or soiled sheets.

If you or your child has persistent diarrhea (with or without a fever), or the diarrhea is
very bad, call your health care provider for advice.
More information can be found at www.southcoast.org/health/norovirus.html.
About Southcoast Health System & Southcoast Hospitals Group
Southcoast Health System is a community based health delivery system with multiple
access points, offering an integrated continuum of health services throughout Southeastern
Massachusetts and East Bay, Rhode Island. It includes the three hospitals that make up
Southcoast Hospitals Group — Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River, St. Luke’s Hospital in
New Bedford and Tobey Hospital in Wareham.
Southcoast provides advanced clinical services, such as open heart surgery, angioplasty
and heart rhythm services, comprehensive cancer care, neurosurgery, weight loss surgery,
orthopedic surgery and advanced imaging services. Southcoast is a not-for-profit charitable
organization that depends on the support of the community to provide services.
More information is available online at www.southcoast.org. Connect to Southcoast at
www.southcoast.org/connect/
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