Lakeshore Hospital battles virus outbreak

Montreal's Lakeshore General Hospital quarantined several patients and shut down a ward to contain what officials believe could be an outbreak of the Norwalk virus.

At least 26 patients have fallen ill after contracting a contagious virus that triggered violent vomiting and diarrhea.

Infected patients were isolated on Sunday, when the hospital shut down the Three North wing to outsiders, said Ramona Rodriguez, manager of infection control.

"We closed the North because we have a large number of cases there so we don't want it to go further. So we don't admit new patients on that unit anymore, and no visitors are allowed on that building either."

While doctors run tests on the patients to confirm the virus, the hospital is stepping up efforts to keep the ward clean, Rodriguez added.

"We've increased the frequency of cleaning the bathrooms, the environment, [and with] the isolation, we've become much more restricted in limiting visitors completely."

The Norwalk virus is one scenario doctors are contemplating, but the outbreak could also be caused by C. difficile, which presents similar symptoms, Rodriguez said.

"Based on how fast it's going through a unit, it's more likely to be a viral type of a gastroenteritis."

At least eight other Quebec hospitals are dealing with gastroenteritis outbreaks.

The Lakeshore General Hospital should have test results by the end of the week.