Our services range from hospital care, to community-based residential, home health, mental health and public health services.

Our facilities include hospitals, clinics, community health care centres, residential care and assisted living homes.

Viral gastroenteritis, including that caused by Norovirus, is a common illness. It is most often called "stomach flu" even though it is not influenza. You may have heard it called "winter vomiting disease" because even though it can occur at any time of year, there is usually an increase in occurrence during the winter months. Outbreaks occur in the community, nursing homes, day-care centres, schools, children's camps and on cruise ships. Schools throughout Fraser Health have been affected in recent years with outbreaks of vomiting and diarrhea caused by Norovirus or a similar viral agent.

When viral gastroenteritis affects a school, it can spread very quickly, resulting in high levels of absenteeism. Viruses such as Norovirus can spread as droplets if ill individuals vomit. The virus can live for a long time on environmental surfaces so an effective cleaning and disinfecting regimen is important when there is illness in a school.  Also, as with most communicable diseases, handwashing is a very important preventive measure.  People can potentially still spread a gastrointestinal virus such as Norovirus for several days after they recover, so in an outbreak situation, Public Health will often recommend that ill persons stay away from their school for two days after their symptoms stop.  

A variety of germs can cause diarrhea and vomiting. Often the actual cause of illness in school settings is not determined since people usually recover quickly and do not have testing done.  Norovirus is known to be one of the most common causes.  Visit HealthLink BC for more information on Norovirus.

The School Health Nurse is the best contact to report concerns about absenteeism or illness in schools. The School Health Nurse should be informed promptly when:

• Attendance records indicated that greater than 10% of the school population is absent
• 3 or more students and/or staff from a particular class, team, etc. are absent with symptoms of gastroenteritis (i.e. vomiting or diarrhea)

The School Health Nurse will consult with other public health professionals as appropriate.