The Launceston General Hospital gastro outbreak has begun to dissipate, with one of the two closed wards expected to be re-opened on Tuesday.
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The outbreak first hit the hospital on Tuesday last week when eight suspected gastro cases gripped rehabilitation ward 3R before it entered quarantine.
The situation, which was being managed by the hospital's Infection Prevention Control Unit, bubbled away for four days before surgical ward 5B was closed when four patients and one staff member reported gastro-like symptoms.
A further three potential new cases were reported on ward 3R.
As of Monday afternoon no gastro-like symptoms had been reported on ward 3R for 48 hours, no positive gastro tests had been returned, and terminal cleaning had commenced in order for the ward to reopen on Tuesday.
Health Minister Jeremy Rockliff said the cause of the cases remained unknown.
"No yet to my knowledge and of course these matters are taken extremely seriously, people can become very seriously unwell," he said.
"My understanding is that the right procedures were followed and it's important that strict hygiene regime of course is in place in the hospital environment."
LGH executive director of nursing, Helen Bryan, said the situation had continued to steady but seven patients on 5B were still impacted by the bug.
The ward would remain closed until it had been gastro-symptom free for 48 hours, in line with Infection Control guidelines.
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