Lake Region Healthcare, based in Fergus Falls, Minn., is restricting visitors' access to patients to immediate family members over 18 years old due to a recent outbreak of gastrointestinal illness in the community, according to an Inforum report.
According to the report, the illness, which experts believe could be the norovirus, started spreading in the community approximately three weeks ago. Since then, patients have been coming to the hospital complaining of norovirus symptoms, including nausea, vomiting and abdominal cramps.
Due to the highly contagious nature of the illness and the vulnerable state of many patients, particularly the elderly, the hospital said it would implement the visitors' restriction and closely monitor the outbreak on a daily basis.
According to the report, the illness, which experts believe could be the norovirus, started spreading in the community approximately three weeks ago. Since then, patients have been coming to the hospital complaining of norovirus symptoms, including nausea, vomiting and abdominal cramps.
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Due to the highly contagious nature of the illness and the vulnerable state of many patients, particularly the elderly, the hospital said it would implement the visitors' restriction and closely monitor the outbreak on a daily basis.
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