An elderly couple believe they contracted the highly contagious norovirus — the world’s leading cause of gastroenteritis — because of poor infection control at the Canberra Hospital. Robert Dew, 74, and his wife Julie, 72, said they were visiting an elderly friend last week who had contracted the virus. The couple said staff failed to warn them of the risks and allowed them into the room for about an hour without protective gear. The patient, 97-year-old Neville*, vomited and coughed before a nurse advised Mr and Mrs Dew they should not be in the room without masks. Also with them for the visit was the patient’s partner, 87-year-old Dorris*, who on Sunday was rushed to Calvary Hospital by ambulance after falling violently ill with the same virus. She remains in hospital. On Monday morning, Mrs Dew was also rushed to Calvary Hospital after becoming sick and has since been diagnosed with norovirus. Mr Dew was also feeling unwell on Wednesday afternoon and believed he too had contracted the virus, which is more prevalent during the colder months. Both Mr and Mrs Dew have serious underlying health conditions, which they believed put them at higher risk.
