Summary
These guidelines have been developed to standardise the approach of public health services, managers and health care workers of hospitals and elderly care facilities in New Zealand to both the investigation and control of institutional norovirus outbreaks.
Outbreaks of norovirus gastroenteritis are being increasingly recognised in the community and within hospitals and elderly care facilities in New Zealand. The outbreak of norovirus gastroenteritis continues to be a significant test of infection control practices in residential and health care facilities. Outbreak management has been defined as the process of anticipating, preventing, preparing for, detecting, responding [to] and controlling outbreaks in order that
health and economic impact is minimised.