VA medical center halts admissions

The Durham VA Medical Center has temporarily stopped admitting new patients in response to a common stomach virus that has made some patients and staff members ill.

The hospital is also not transferring its patients to other community medical sites, and those patients who need admission will be sent to other area VA facilities, according to a Thursday press release.

It isn't clear just how many patients and hospital staff members have gotten the virus, in part because it has common symptoms, said Hal Hummel, a hospital spokesman.

"It's a moving target," he said. "It's a very small number. We're probably looking at 20 to 50."

The Norovirus is the same virus that has recently been detected at other community hospitals and is occasionally found on cruise ships, at hotels and in other gathering places.

The viruses can cause diarrhea, stomach pain and vomiting for two to four days, but are generally not fatal, according to the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Veterans or family members with concerns about this issue should contact the Medical Center at (888) 878-6890.