TILTON – As of Monday, Feb. 12, visiting residents at the New Hampshire Veterans Home (NHVH) remains suspended as the medical staff deals with a confirmed outbreak of norovirus, a highly contagious intestinal ailment that causes vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain and headaches.
NHVH Commandant Margaret D. LaBrecque shut down visiting by family, friends and service groups on Friday, Feb. 9, after consultation with the New Hampshire Division of Public Health.
The halt will continue for the duration of the current outbreak, though visits to severely ill residents and those in hospice-type care will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
The suspension aims to protect the health of the population of around 200 frail elderly veterans, keeping new infections from coming from outside, and avoiding carrying any viruses out of the facility.