Norovirus Lawyer & Attorney : Marler Clark : Norovirus Blog

Wilsonville
Eight staff members and 28 residents have become ill
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
LISA GRACE LEDNICER

Clackamas County health officials are testing residents of a Wilsonville senior living facility for norovirus after six residents were hospitalized over the weekend with symptoms of diarrhea and vomiting. Three of the residents, who are in their 80s, have returned to the facility.

Five new cases on Tuesday brought to 28 the total of residents falling ill at The Wilsonville Senior Living Facility, in addition to eight sickened staff members, said Dr. Alan Melnick, Clackamas County health officer. One guest who visited the center Saturday fell ill with norovirus-like symptoms, Melnick said. No deaths from the outbreak have been reported.

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April 25, 2006

SEATTLE - Dozens of University of Washington sorority and fraternity members have been sickened by a stomach flu that health officials believe is the norovirus.

The students at the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority and Phi Gamma Delta fraternity are expected to recover.

Surfaces at the houses are being disinfected and students are advised to wash their hands and not share food or drink.

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The Seattle Times
Seattle, Washington
April 25, 2006

Dozens of University of Washington sorority and fraternity members have been sickened by an outbreak of a flulike illness, public-health officials said.
The outbreak, likely norovirus, sickened nearly every member of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority and about half the members of the Phi Gamma Delta (Fiji) fraternity, officials said. The students are expected to recover, and neither house was quarantined. Health officials have been working with the houses to prevent further transmission by encouraging good hand-washing practices, disinfection of surfaces and refraining from sharing food or drink.

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Saturday, April 22, 2006
Reported cases of the illness have jumped in the past week
By Sharon Salyer
Herald Writer

Island County public health officials are reporting an increase in norovirus, an easily spread bug that can make people intensely ill for a couple of days with nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramping.

Although a full-blown outbreak isn't under way, an increasing number of cases have been reported at hospitals and clinics, county health officer Dr. Roger Case said.

"It's pretty contagious," he said. "It's important people understand what they're dealing with. We want to get on top of this before it becomes widespread in the community."

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By Sarah Barry / Daily Progress staff writer
April 22, 2006

An outbreak of stomach illness that sickened more than 80 people after an Easter brunch at Farmington Country Club was likely caused by a norovirus, preliminary evidence indicates.

Roy Crewz, spokesman for the Thomas Jefferson Health District, said tests determined that two of the attendees had contracted the virus.

ìThat is still a preliminary result,î Crewz said. The Charlottesville-Albemarle Health Department still does not know how diners were infected.

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April 21, 2006

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. -- A group of residents at a Jackson County retirement complex became sick this week with a stomach bug, KMBC's Micheal Mahoney reported Friday.

Several residents at the Fountains at Greenbriar started feeling ill on Monday. When the stomach virus spread, Greenbriar officials canceled the week's activities, including laundry services, and they closed the dining room. Instead, the 226 residents had their meals delivered to their apartments.

"That keeps people from gathering together. When you have people who live in a facility like this, they normally do their meals in the dining hall," said Larry Jones, with the Independence Health Department.

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Friday, April 21, 2006
By DON HAMILTON and TOM VOGT
Columbian staff writers

Mary Smith knew her mother was dying. They had a few days, doctors said, so Smith and her husband, Scott, sped home to Port Orchard on the night of April 5. They planned to take care of a few things, then dash back to Vancouver the next morning.

But the nurse in her mother's room called shortly before 10 p.m. You'd better hurry back, he said. Your mother may not last the night.

And a moment later, the nurse said she may only have a few hours. Then came the stunning news from the nurse:

"Mary, she just died."

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Friday, April 21, 2006
by Dale King

An apparent outbreak of norovirus that sickened more than 150 students on the Boca Raton campus of Florida Atlantic University may have run its course, a spokesman for the Palm Beach County Health Department told the Boca Raton News.

"It seems to be slowing down," Tim O'Connor said Thursday. "We have interviewed 190 students - and 154 had symptoms of it."

Norovirus is a nonfatal illness that causes stomach upset, vomiting and diarrhea, among other symptoms. It usually occurs on cruise ships or other communal living quarters such as dormitories.

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April 20, 2006

The Celebrity Cruises ship Mercury has experienced outbreaks of a highly contagious norovirus that has sickened hundreds on two consecutive cruises from San Diego to Mexico, resulting in a mild rebuke from federal health officials.

More than 200 passengers and crew members became severely ill, with vomiting and diarrhea, during a March 6-17 cruise from San Diego to Mexico. Then on its next cruise, with 2,000 different passengers, at least 100 people reported norovirus symptoms.

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April 20, 2006

Stanislaus County public health officials are recommending that residents scrub their hands as the chief way to battle an outbreak of nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea that has been affecting the area.

Dr. John Walker said the illness is self-limiting and usually lasts 24 to 48 hours. Antibiotics are not necessary for treatment, he added, but the greatest risk is dehydration, especially for young children, the medically fragile, and the elderly.

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April 20, 2006

County health officials on Wednesday confirmed 154 cases of a contagious stomach virus at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton.

Almost 200 people have reported symptoms consistent with norovirus -- nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramping -- but about 50 people did not have the virus, said Tim O'Connor, spokesman for the Palm Beach County Health Department.

Cases of the norovirus first were reported early Saturday morning and health officials traced the outbreak to the Centre Marketplace cafeteria on campus. It has not been confirmed if a student or a cafeteria worker was the source of the spread, O'Connor said.

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VANCOUVER, Wash. - The Clark County Health Department says the number of new norovirus case has slowed to a trickle.

Some of the latest cases were in the health department itself where eight workers have been sickened.

In all, 222 people came down with stomach flu-like symptoms (viral gastroenteritis) in the past three weeks. Three died. They were elderly retirement home residents with other health problems.

The department says frequent hand washing and cleaning surfaces with disinfectant is the best way to fight the disease.

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April 19, 2006
Palm Beach Post (FL)
Susan R. Miller

BOCA RATON ó According to this story, a sick cafeteria worker probably is to blame for a norovirus outbreak that felled some 150 students and staff at Florida Atlantic University over the weekend.

Many of those who contracted the stomach bug had one thing in common: They ate at the university's Marketplace Cafeteria on Thursday or Friday. Within 24 hours, they started to come down with diarrhea, cramps and vomiting.
The virus also was contracted by other students who later came into contact with sick students and staff.

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Wednesday, April 19, 2006
By DON HAMILTON, Columbian staff writer Advertisement

The norovirus outbreak that has sickened retirement home residents and health care workers has reached further into the Clark County Health Department itself.

Four new cases were reported at the department in recent days, which brings to eight the number of health department workers sickened with the highly contagious gastrointestinal virus.

Not all of the sick employees had visited outbreak sites, said Marni Storey, manager of the health department's infectious disease program. The department has stepped up cleansing of its public areas and work stations with a bleach solution, a recommendation the department issues for all places hit by norovirus.

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50 additional FAU students have fallen ill
By Patty Pensa
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Posted April 19 2006

Fifty more Florida Atlantic University students on Tuesday reported stomach-churning symptoms associated with norovirus, an indication the illness that showed up on campus late last week is spreading.

Lab results late Tuesday confirmed the outbreak was norovirus, a highly contagious affliction that isn't fatal but has unpleasant gastrointestinal effects. Twelve people were treated at the hospital over the weekend and about 150 now have contracted it, officials said.

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By Patty Pensa
Staff Writer
April 18, 2006

Fifty more Florida Atlantic University students on Tuesday reported stomach-churning symptoms associated with a norovirus, an indication the illness that showed up on campus late last week is spreading.

Lab results late Tuesday confirmed the outbreak was a norovirus, a highly contagious virus that isn't fatal but has unpleasant gastrointestinal effects. Twelve people were treated at the hospital over the weekend and about 150 now have contracted it, officials said.

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April 18, 2006
The Columbian
Tom Vogt

Norovirus outbreaks at two Vancouver retirement centers continue to wind down, but health officials are still fielding new cases.

Ten additional cases have been reported since the Friday update, county health officials said Monday.

That brings the total to 218; most have been at Cascade Inn retirement center and Van Mall Retirement Community, but 25 employees of three agencies also have been sickened.

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Virus Causes Nausea, Vomiting
April 18, 2006

MODESTO, Calif. -- A nasty stomach virus is spreading in Northern California and throughout the country, health officials in Stanislaus County warned.

The norovirus lasts 24 to 48 hours and packs a punch, causing nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Dehydration is the biggest concern, especially for children.

Health officials said this is the same virus that appeared recently among cruise ship passengers.

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More Than 100 People, Mostly Students, Got Sick
April 18, 2006

(CBS4 News) BOCA RATON Palm Beach County health officials are trying to determine what caused more than 100 people at Florida Atlantic University to get sick.

Many students have reported symptoms of a norovirus, a typically nonfatal illness that usually occurs on cruise ships or other communal living quarters.

Twelve people went to the hospital over the weekend complaining of major gastrointestinal distress. All were treated and released.

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By Stephen Deere
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
April 18, 2006

BOCA RATON ? Palm Beach County health officials still are trying to figure out what made more than 100 people at Florida Atlantic University's Boca Raton campus sick over the weekend.

Many students have reported symptoms of a norovirus, a typically nonfatal illness that usually occurs on cruise ships or other communal living quarters.

Twelve people went to the hospital over the weekend complaining of major gastrointestinal distress. All were treated and released.

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04/17/2006

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that a man who worked as a lettuce-chopper at a sandwich shop chain came back to work too early from his illness and made over 100 customers sick.

The worker passed a norovirus on to three separate office parties in party-sized submarine sandwiches. Also, about 25 people who bought individual servings of food got sick. Noroviruses cause vomiting and diarrhea and other symptoms.

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April 17, 2006 07:11 AM PDT

A Reno day care center is expected to reopen Monday after a viral outbreak.

Noah's Ark closed its doors Thursday and Friday to clean everything where the virus could be present, including toys, high chairs and tables.

Health officials say about 60 people were infected with norovirus, the family of common viruses that have sickened many cruise ship passengers.

The outbreak caused diarrhea and vomiting.

Health officials received the first complaints April seventh and confirmed the disease on Wednesday.

Inspectors say the facility could safely reopen on Monday.

(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved

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April 17, 2006

As last week ended, Yellowstone City-County Health Department leaders were cautiously optimistic that an outbreak of norovirus was over.

The norovirus outbreak marked the first time the department activated its incident command structure. Incident command has long been used by firefighters and police, but it was introduced to public health in the wake of 9/11. It is a structure for effectively managing major incidents.

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April 15, 2006
ASSOCIATED PRESS

RENO, Nev. (AP) - A Reno day care center is expected to reopen Monday after a viral outbreak.

Noah's Ark closed its doors Thursday and Friday to clean everything where the virus could be present, including toys, high chairs and tables.

Health officials said about 60 people were infected with norovirus, the family of common viruses that have sickened many cruise ship passengers. The outbreak caused diarrhea and vomiting.

"You cannot fault anybody here," said Tracie Douglas, spokeswoman for the Washoe District Health Department. "These things happen, and the one really good thing about Noah's Ark is they chose to close themselves and do a really thorough cleaning."

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Health - Seven more fall ill in Clark County, while two more are sick in Clackamas County Fewer new cases were reported Friday in norovirus outbreaks that have sickened more than 200 people and killed three elderly retirement home residents in Clark County. Seven new cases were identified among residents and staff members of Cascade Retirement Inn and Van Mall Retirement Community, compared with 10 new cases a day earlier.
Saturday, April 15, 2006

Washington state Department of Health laboratory tests have confirmed norovirus as the source of the illness at both locations.

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Alex Newman (ANEWMAN@RGJ.COM)
RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL
April 15, 2006

A Reno day care, where health officials confirmed an outbreak of norovirus earlier this week, is expected to reopen Monday, officials said.

Noah's Ark, 1660 Grandview Ave., closed doors Thursday and Friday to clean surfaces in the school where about 100 children attend day care.

Noah's Ark officials could not be reached Friday.

Health officials said about 60 people have been infected with norovirus, a group of closely related viruses that spread person to person.

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April 13, 2006

Jackson County health officials say they believe they've contained an outbreak of norovirus. They say 48 people came down with flu-like symptoms after lunch last Wednesday at the Jackson TRW plant, but many have already returned to work. T hat final report is due next week. The report will determine whether or not the catered food was responsible for the outbreak.

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April 14, 2006

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a report on April 14 titled, Preliminary FoodNet Data on the Incidence of Infection with Pathogens Transmitted Commonly Through Food - 10 States, United States, 2005. FoodNet collects data from 10 U.S. states regarding diseases caused by enteric pathogens transmitted commonly through food. This report describes preliminary surveillance data for 2005 and compares them with baseline data from the period 1996-1998.

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Friday, April 14, 2006
By Kurt Eckert
The Argus

The symptoms caused by a family of gastrointestinal viruses known as noroviruses can cause a lot of discomfort and illness, but there's no evidence of a massive outbreak of disease, says Washington County's top health official.

Since April 3, 44 residents and 25 staff members at the Maryville Nursing Facility in Beaverton have reported becoming ill, said Dr. Jay Kravitz, Tuesday, April 11.

"When we first hear of the outbreak on the 3rd, we immediately sent an environmental health specialist and a nurse epidemiologist to Maryville to gather information and assist the facility," Kravitz said. No violations of sanitation, health or safety rules were found, and the facility's staf was given recommendations on how to prevent any further spread, he said.

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Friday, April 14, 2006
By TOM VOGT, Columbian staff writer

Two new onsets of norovirus symptoms surfaced Thursday, one at each of the retirement facilities hit by the Vancouver-area outbreak.

That brings the number of cases involving residents and staff members of the two facilities, as well as employees of three health care agencies, to 200.

While the infections haven't stopped, the diminishing rate of new cases particularly at Cascade Inn is an encouraging sign, a county health official said.

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Friday, April 14, 2006

VANCOUVER -- The number of people who have been sickened by viral outbreaks at two Vancouver retirement centers grew to 177 Thursday, when six more staff workers and four more residents at one home were identified by public health experts.

Three residents of Cascade Retirement Inn died last week after becoming ill with norovirus. Each was near 90 years old and had an underlying medical condition.

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Thursday, April 13, 2006
By TOM VOGT Columbian Staff Writer

Only one new onset of norovirus symptoms in the Vancouver-area outbreak was reported Thursday, a staff member at Van Mall Retirement Community.

There were no new cases reported among residents at Van Mall Retirement Community or the other senior-living center that has been hit with the illness, Cascade Inn retirement center.

Updated totals now put the number of cases at 199 as of noon Thursday, according to the Clark County Health Department.

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Friday, April 14, 2006
By John Agar
The Grand Rapids Press

GRAND RAPIDS -- A sandwich-shop worker vomited, but felt better later that morning and returned to work.

He had norovirus, which causes stomach cramps, diarrhea and vomiting. Soon, he wasn't the only one sick to his stomach. His illness spread to 100 others who ate lunch catered by the now-closed Blimpie restaurant where he worked.

The national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention highlighted the case in its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report released Thursday. It detailed Kent County Health Department's efforts to identify the source of the virus and suggestions to prevent food-borne illnesses from spreading.

The virus is very contagious, and spreads through contact with contaminated surfaces and objects.

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April 14, 2006
Reuters

WASHINGTON - A single employee of a sandwich chain who came back to work too early after suffering from a stomach virus infected more than 100 office workers who ate party-sized submarine sandwiches last year, federal health officials reported on Thursday.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the man passed a norovirus on to three separate office parties in Kent County, Michigan in May last year.

And it took a week for the restaurant to be closed and properly disinfected afterward, the CDC said in its weekly report on death and illness.

"Illnesses at a publishing company, school, social service group, and among members of the public resulted in closure of a warehouse, employee absences, pay for substitute teachers, loss of wages, and loss of revenue to the restaurant during a week-long closure," the CDC report reads.

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April 14, 2006
Billings Gazette News Services

Testing done at a South Dakota lab has confirmed that Norwalk virus sickened people who patronized the Golden Corral restaurant.

Preliminary testing at a laboratory in Helena had already fingered Norwalk virus as the culprit.

The restaurant was one of three sites in Billings where the virus was identified during an outbreak of the highly contagious sickness that began last month.

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Wednesday, April 12, 2006
By TOM VOGT, Columbian Staff Writer

The number of people sickened by a series of norovirus outbreaks in Vancouver climbed by 24 today, with a total of 189 cases reported by two retirement facilities and three health-care agencies.

All the reports of new onsets of the illness were at Van Mall Retirement Community, where nine residents and two staff member came down today with symptoms that include diarrhea, nausea and vomiting since Tuesday's update. That raises the total at Van Mall to 80 cases, including 63 residents and 17 staff members.

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B.iological A.gents
By cdc.gov
April 13, 2006

Kent County, Michigan, May 2005

The majority of cases of foodborne gastroenteritis in the United States are caused by noroviruses (1). This report summarizes an investigation by the Kent County Health Department (KCHD) in Michigan into three norovirus outbreaks and a cluster of community cases that were associated with a national submarine sandwich franchise restaurant during May 3--9, 2005.

The investigation identified a potential source, a food handler who had returned to work within a few hours of having symptoms of gastrointestinal illness while he was still excreting norovirus in his stools. To prevent norovirus outbreaks, food service workers should be educated regarding norovirus transmission and control.

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Wash Hands To Prevent Spread
April 12, 2006

VANCOUVER, Wash. -- Health officials are reporting 165 confirmed and suspected cases of norovirus illness in Clark County.

Eighty-six cases are connected with Cascade Retirement Inn, including 62 residents and 24 staff members. At the Van Mall Retirement Community, 57 cases are reported, including 43 residents and 14 staff members.

Additionally, nine American Medical Response employees, 11 Southwest Washington Medical Center staffers and two Clark County Health Department workers are infected.

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By Peter Gorner
Tribune science reporter
Published April 10, 2006

An outbreak last month of 536 reported cases of Norwalk virus in 11 Chicago-area hospitals and nursing homes has put health officials on alert.

Highly contagious but self-limiting and rarely life-threatening, Norwalk, or Norovirus as it is now called, is found in the stool or vomit of infected people. Often misnamed stomach flu, though not an influenza virus, Norwalk causes severe diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.

"This is a very uncomfortable illness that fortunately will resolve itself in a couple of days. We haven't had any outbreaks outside of the long-term care facilities," said Kitty Loewy, spokeswoman for the Cook County Department of Public Health. "We believe it has peaked at this point. And we don't know if we have a bigger outbreak this year, or we just have really good reporting."

Loewy said none of the 536 reported cases resulted in death.

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Tuesday, April 11, 2006
By Kurt Eckert
The Argus

Three deaths at two senior centers in Vancouver, Wash., have raised concerns about the spread of noroviruses in Washington County, health officials say.

Maryville Nursing Home, 14645 Farmington Road, reported 63 confirmed cases of patients sickened by noroviruses over the Palm Sunday weekend, said Dr. Jay Kravitz, the county's health officer.

People in confined spaces tend to pass such viruses around quite easily, Kravitz said. Senior centers, homeless shelters and other group living facilities are fertile breeding grounds for the highly contagious organisms.

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Vancouver - What appears to be seven new cases of the norovirus crops up in one home
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
HOLLEY GILBERT

VANCOUVER -- Health officials have found no connection between two Vancouver retirement homes where 129 residents and staff members have been sickened in the past two weeks with what they think is the same norovirus.

Nine medics with American Medical Response, all of whom had contact with the Cascade Retirement Inn, and 11 Southwest Washington Medical Center workers also have become ill with diarrhea, vomiting and nausea, symptoms of the highly contagious norovirus.

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Monday, April 10, 2006
By TOM VOGT, Columbian Staff Writer

Photo by Dave Olson - Marni Storey of the Clark County Health Department updates the press Monday on a norovirus outbreak that has sickened 149 people, including 11 hospital workers and nine ambulance crew members.

The rate of norovirus cases at a Vancouver retirement center is dropping, a Clark County health official said Monday, but similar symptoms now are being reported by personnel who work for an ambulance company and by employees of a Vancouver hospital.

The outbreak that struck the Cascade Inn retirement center has sickened 62 residents and 23 staff members, Marni Storey, manager of the health department's infectious disease program, said Monday afternoon. Eleven patients are currently in the hospital.

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How to stop the spread of the virus in the Mid-Columbia
CARLY KENNELLY
KVEW TV
Monday, April 10th, 2006

A norovirus outbreak at a Vancouver Washington retirement center has reached 85 people, killing three. Norovirus is a gastrointestinal virus causing diarrhea, stomach cramping, and a mild fever for a few days in a row, symptoms that sound familiar to Margaret Bowers.

"I was sick with a bad cold and I was sick to my stomach, I think that's what it was," said Bowers.

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Monday, April 10, 2006

The following is a statement released to the media from the Clark County Health Department, about updates on norovirus outbreaks involving the Cascade Retirement Inn and Van Mall Retirement Community in Vancouver:

VANCOUVER, Wash. -- As of 10 a.m. today, the total number of cases related to the norovirus outbreak at Cascade stands at 100. This includes 68 residents, 23 staff, 8 members of American Medical Response, and one visitor. Since the outbreak began, a total of three residents have died; all were elderly and had other underlying medical conditions.

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April 10, 2006

BILLINGS, MT - An outbreak of the Norwalk virus that sickened more than 500 people in Yellowstone County appears to be on the decline.

A health official says only a handful of new cases were reported over the weekend.

The virus can cause sudden and violent vomiting, diarrhea and other symptoms. It first drew attention March 23rd, with reports that about 150 staff and residents at Billings Health and Rehabilitation Community had come down sick.

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April 10, 2006
By Associated Press

VANCOUVER, WASH. - Health officials say the number of people suffering from a norovirus outbreak at a Vancouver, Wash. retirement center has reached 85.

Officials at the Cascade Retirement Inn -- where the virus killed three people last week -- reported eight new cases Sunday.

A second Vancouver retirement center reported another 32 people with symptoms similar to that of norovirus. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramping.

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Vancouver - Eighty-five people from one facility are sick and 32 people in another have similar symptoms
Monday, April 10, 2006
RYAN FRANK

The number of people suffering from a norovirus outbreak centered at a Vancouver retirement center climbed to 85 on Sunday.

Officials at the Cascade Retirement Inn -- where the virus killed three people last week -- reported eight new cases Sunday.

A second Vancouver retirement center reported another 32 people with symptoms similar to that of norovirus: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramping. Health officials haven't confirmed whether the cases at Van Mall Retirement Community are norovirus or whether they are related to the Cascade Retirement Inn, which is about six miles away.

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Seven Ambulance Workers Report Symptoms
April 9, 2006

VANCOUVER, Wash. -- As of 1:00 p.m. today, eight additional cases of norovirus have been reported in the Cascade Retirement Inn outbreak since Saturday. Of these eight cases, only one began having symptoms Sunday. The total number of cases now stands at 85. This includes 57 residents, 21 staff, and 7 members of American Medical Response, a local medical transport company. Since the outbreak began, a total of three residents have died; all were elderly and had other underlying medical conditions.

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April 9, 2006

Health officials in Montana are launching a prevention campaign to help stop an outbreak of the Norwalk virus. So far, about 400 people are sick and about 30 of them have been hospitalized. The virus surfaced two weeks ago at a health and rehabilitation center and later appeared at a senior living facility. Health officials say there's a way everyone can help stop the virus from spreading.

Vicki Olson, Johnson City County Health Dept.: "Techniques are very basic to a lot of the potential disasters that come along. Basic hand washing truly can empower each of us to be able to go out in public and not have to stay home, because we hear we have virus in our community."

County health officials have posted hand washing reminders at restaurants, hotels and other buildings in the area.

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April 9, 2006
KATU 2 NEWS

VANCOUVER, Wash. - Health officials say four ambulance workers are among the 77 people stricken with norovirus linked to the Cascade Inn retirement center in Vancouver, Washington.

Three elderly residents of Cascade Inn have died since the outbreak there was confirmed last week.

Saturday, the Clark County Health Department reported that four employees of American Medical Response had contracted the virus. Also stricken are 52 Cascade Inn residents and 21 staff members.

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Norovirus Outbreak Kills 3, Sickens 59 in Washington; Retirement Center Quarantined

VANCOUVER, Wash. Apr 7, 2006 (AP)ó A third person died Friday from a viral outbreak at a retirement center that has sickened more than 55 residents and workers, authorities said.

Forty residents and 19 staff members of the Cascade Inn were affected by the norovirus. Nine people have been hospitalized, Clark County health officials said.

Marni Storey, manager of the Health Department's infectious disease program, said she expects to see more cases before the outbreak of norovirus dies down.

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By DIANE COCHRAN
Of The Gazette Staff

Billings, MT - Health officers fanned out across Billings for a second day on Friday to educate hundreds of businesses about preventing transmission of Norwalk virus.

"We've been trying to hit the large public gathering places" such as MetraPark and Rimrock Mall, said Barbara Schneeman, spokeswoman for the Yellowstone City-County Health Department. "Billings is a regional activities center on weekends."

The outbreak of Norwalk virus should not deter people from visiting Billings this weekend, said Dr. Doug Moore, chief of public health for the health department.

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SALEM, Ore. - About 100 patients and staff at Oregon State Hospital in Salem were put into quarantine for almost three weeks after an outbreak of norovirus in one of the hospital's buildings, according to a spokesman for the Oregon Department of Human Services.

Jim Sellers said the virus first broke out on March 11; three days later, hospital officials isolated three wards in one building. Some staff members remain ill, he said, but the quarantine was lifted on March 31, without any need for hospitalization.

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April 9, 2006

FOUR cruises leaving Southern California ports were struck with outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness last month, the largest outbreak in more than a year.

Norovirus, which causes nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fevers and aches and generally lasts a couple of days, was confirmed aboard Princess Cruises' Island Princess, Holland America's Amsterdam and one sailing of Celebrity Cruises' Mercury. The cause of a GI outbreak on another Mercury cruise later in March has not yet been determined, said Lisa Beaumier, a public health analyst with the CDC's Vessel Sanitation Program.

In March, Royal Caribbean's Grandeur of the Seas, leaving Tampa, Fla., had a norovirus outbreak and Holland America's Volendam, which departed from Port Everglades, Fla., had a GI illness outbreak, but it is not yet known whether norovirus is to blame.

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