Health officials have declared a facility-wide influenza-A outbreak at Campbellford Memorial Hospital.
The outbreak was originally declared on Saturday on the medical-surgical unit of the hospital. The symptoms of this illness include fever, sore throat, cough, body aches, headache, chest and/or nasal congestion.
However, on Tuesday the hospital and Haliburton, Kawartha Pine Ridge Public District Health Unit said the outbreak is now impacting the entire hospital, located about 55 kilometres southeast of Peterborough.
“Effective immediately the emergency department will be closed with the exception of life and limb threatening illnesses,” the hospital stated.
Michelle Wellman, executive assistant to the board of directors, president and CEO, said the hospital currently has three confirmed in-patient cases. She would not comment on whether staff have been impacted.
Outpatient services, mental health services and clinic appointment visits will remain open.
However, the hospital says visitor restrictions are now in place.
“We recommend visitor restrictions to one patient per visit, effective immediately and will continue for the duration of the outbreak,” the hospital stated.
Visitors are asked to avoid the first-floor unit, especially if they are feeling ill or have a compromised immune system.
“CMH expects all staff and visitors to be diligent in practising infection prevention and control practices, including hand hygiene and cough etiquette, when visiting the hospital at any time,” the hospital said.
“Frequent hand washing, particularly before and after patient contact, is mandatory and vital to reducing health-care-associated infections.”
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