Flu hits Montreal Jewish General: ER overflows

The Montreal Jewish General Hospital is asking people to stay away from the emergency room because of an outbreak of stomach flu.

The outbreak started in the medicine and surgery wards where a dozen patients got sick this week, infecting about seven staff members. The hospital has since had to close those two wards until the virus runs its course, a decision that created a backlog in emergency room admissions.

"An outbreak of gastro wreaks havoc on the admission rates," said Dr. Allan Azuelos, a physician in the emergency room. "There are a lot of people waiting for beds."

Hospital officials recommend people stay away from the ER for the next couple of days to avoid exacerbating the problem.

For people experiencing non-life threatening medical problems a CLSC — community health clinic — could assist for the time being, said hospital spokesman Glenn Nashen.

"These things normally clear up in 24 to 72 hours, so the question is not to bring in more people, and trying to prevent the overloading and spread internally."

Staff with flu symptoms are being asked to stay home, Nashen said.

But people with appointments in day clinics at the Jewish are free to come to the hospital. "Everything in the hospital is running as usual, except for the problems on these two units, so outpatient clinics, surgery has not been cancelled," he said.

"Nothing else has been affected."

The virus was likely brought into the hospital by a patient or visitor and is not related to general hygiene or cleanliness in the building, the hospital affirmed.