A contagious virus has spread inside the largest inpatient psychiatric unit in the Omaha/Council Bluffs area, which is -not- accepting new patients for the time-being. Officials with Alegent Health are still trying to figure out exactly how the virus arrived at the 65-bed unit at Immanuel Medical Center in Omaha. At least nine people are sick, including one teenager and a nurse.
The exact type of virus has not been made public, but one official says it causes uncontrollable vomiting, severe diarrhea, headaches and fever. Hospital officials say they won’t start taking in new patients again until everyone who’s now sick has been symptom-free for a full 48 hours.