ALBANY, GA (WALB) -
Phoebe Putney Hospital is taking precautions to help prevent norovirus, or the stomach flu, from spreading.
Clusters of the contagious virus have been reported at a nursing home in Dougherty County and one in Thomas County.
Phoebe heightened awareness among employees. If a patient enters with any sort of infectious virus, a sign is placed on their door, workers must wear gloves and masks, and surfaces are disinfected more often.
"If it enters a household it will go through the household unless everyone is very careful with their hand washing and shouldn't prepare food if they are ill and for a couple days after you can actually put it in your food and share it that way as well," said Donna Matthew Infection Prevention Specialist.
The best ways to prevent the stomach flu from spreading are to wash your hands often and disinfect possibly contaminated surfaces with bleach.
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