Norovirus Lawyer & Attorney : Marler Clark : Norovirus Blog

Jeevan Vasagar
Tuesday May 30, 2006
The Guardian

Nearly 500 holidaymakers were offered refunds yesterday after a cruise to the Norwegian fjords was cancelled because of an outbreak of winter vomiting disease on board the ship they were due to sail on.

The MV Van Gogh was due to leave on a seven-day trip to Norway on Sunday night, but travellers were turned away at the dock after an outbreak of norovirus, which causes diarrhoea and projectile vomiting. A spokesman for Travelscope Holidays said the bug was probably brought on board by a passenger on the previous trip.

Two elderly passengers were removed from the ship on stretchers and taken to Colchester hospital when it docked in Harwich, Essex, on Sunday. Both people, who were in their 80s, have since been discharged. The illness struck down 70 passengers and 15 of the crew on the ship's previous voyage, also a Norwegian cruise.

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May 27, 2006
The Star-Press
Naseem Sowti

MUNCIE -- More than 30 people who attended an outing last week at the Delaware Country Club have been sickened by a stomach virus, although officials are not sure of the source of infection.

The Delaware County Health Department is in the process of investigating what might be an outbreak of norovirus, also known as cruise ship virus.

Well over 100 people attended the May 19 event hosted by the Cardinal Varsity Club at the country club. Cases were first reported to the health department at the beginning of this week. The country club kitchen was consequently shut down on Wednesday for cleaning and investigation.

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May. 27, 2006
The Arizona Republic
Michael Clancy

Norovirus likely is to blame for the "stomach flu" that has sickened about 25 people on raft trips through the Grand Canyon in the past few weeks.

The same ailment is occurring more regularly throughout the state, at large enough levels to call an outbreak, the state epidemiologist says. An outbreak is any group of cases that is "more than you would expect," he said.

A similar outbreak hit Grand Canyon rafters in September, sickening about 100 people.

Norovirus is the term for a group of viruses that causes severe bouts of vomiting and diarrhea. The symptoms pass in a day or two, but victims remain contagious for several more days. It is highly contagious from the moment a carrier feels ill until at least three days after symptoms have passed.

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May 29, 2006
By Associated Press

VANCOUVER, WASH. - The norovirus outbreak that sickened more than 220 people at a retirement home has claimed its third victim.

Mina Allen, 89, of Vancouver, was a resident of the Cascade Inn retirement center in late March when the outbreak occurred. Allen had been hospitalized in early April, and physicians at Southwest Washington Medical Center told her family that she was suffering from norovirus.

Other senior centers and a veterans affairs campus have also seen outbreaks of the illness this spring in Vancouver and the virus was suspected when a wave of illness swept a local school.

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Friday, May 26, 2006
By DON HAMILTON, Columbian Staff Writer

The norovirus outbreak that struck the Cascade Inn retirement center this spring claimed another victim this week.

Mina Allen of Vancouver was resident of the center in late March when the norovirus outbreak struck. Three Cascade Inn residents died and more than 220 other people were sickened, including residents and staff at Van Mall Retirement Community, as well as workers at Southwest Washington Hospitals, American Medical Response and the Clark County Health Department.

Allen had been hospitalized in early April, and physicians at Southwest Washington Hospital told her family she was suffering from norovirus, said her daughter, Phyllis Jackson of Vancouver.

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May 26, 2006

Across Florida ñ Health departments across Tampa Bay and the state are seeing an increase in suspected norovirus cases. The illness is common this time of year but officials say there are more than usual. Symptoms of norovirus usually include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and some stomach cramping. Sometimes people additionally have a low grade fever, chills, headache, muscle aches and a general sense of tiredness. The illness often begins suddenly and the infected person may feel very sick. Norovirus is usually brief, with symptoms lasting only about one or two days. In general, children experience more vomiting than adults. Most people with norovirus illness have both of these symptoms.

To avoid contracting norovirus, the center for disease control recommends washing your hands frequently. Carefully wash fruits and vegetables and steam oysters before eating them. Clean and disinfect contaminated surfaces immediately after an episode of illness using bleach. Immediately remove and wash clothes or linens that may be contaminated.

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Friday, May 26, 2006.
By The Gazette Staff

The Yellowstone City-County Health Department continues to receive sporadic reports from people experiencing norovirus-type symptoms -- a sudden onset of vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramping. Testing for the virus continues, and new cases are being confirmed.

Since the beginning of the outbreak in late March, the health department has received reports from more than 1,150 individuals who have fallen ill and has confirmed nearly 90 norovirus hospitalizations.

Just this week, a new small focal point of the outbreak was identified at Laurel Evergreen Health and Rehab Center.

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St. Petersburg, Florida - County Health Departments around the state are reporting a seasonal upswing in the number of suspected cases of sickness involving Noroviruses.

The Centers for Disease Contol says: "Symptoms of Norovirus illness usually include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and some stomach cramping. Sometimes people additionally have a low-grade fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, and a general sense of tiredness. The illness often begins suddenly, and the infected person may feel very sick.

The illness is usually brief, with symptoms lasting only about 1 or 2 days. In general, children experience more vomiting than adults. Most people with norovirus illness have both of these symptoms." There are ways to cut down on the chance of contracting the virus.

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May 22, 2006
The Oregonian

Clackamas County Health Department officials confirmed Friday that an outbreak of vomiting and diarrhea at a senior living facility last weekend was caused by norovirus.

The outbreak sickened 56 residents and 25 staff members at The Wilsonville Senior Living Facility, said Dr. Alan Melnick, Clackamas County health officer. Two family members of staff, one health care worker and one visitor also fell ill. No deaths have been reported.

Six residents were hospitalized, including one Friday, but three have returned to the facility and one is planning to return Monday, said Linda Swanson, the facility's executive director.

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May 21, 2006
The Olympian (Washington)
Associated Press

CORVALLIS, Ore. ó Benton County health officials say that 15 suspected cases of norovirus have been reported by Oregon State University staff, students and family members.

Norovirus symptoms include frequent vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, and stomach cramps. Other symptoms include headache, low-grade fever, chills, muscle aches, and a general sense of tiredness.

No single source has been identified for the suspected outbreak. But Benton County officials said they are investigating with Oregon State.

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May 20, 2006
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Associated Press

CINCINNATI Cincinnati Health Department officials say they're still looking for what caused several hundred people to get sick after eating at a downtown hotel.

The health department says about 200 to 300 people who ate at the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza Hotel between November 29th and December Third suffered vomiting, diarrhea and other stomach problems.

The number of people who got sick has increased. Health officials originally suspected 50 to 100 people became ill.

The hotel cleaned its food preparation areas, threw away any leftover food and ordered all food workers who got sick to stay home until they were symptom-free for three days.

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May 22, 2006
The Lansing State Journal (Michigan)
Christine Rook

At 8 a.m. on a recent Monday, a piece of paper detailing a weekend call from a woman complaining of possible food poisoning landed on Diane Gorch's desk.

The caller had eaten at two local restaurants and was certain which eatery was to blame for her flulike symptoms.

Gorch, who runs the food safety program for the Ingham County Health Department, didn't buy the caller's assumption and by 8:30 a.m., her staff was on the phone with the woman, taking notes on everything she had eaten for the three previous days.

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By LIL ANDERSON
Yellowstone City-County Health
May 20. 2006
The Billings Gazette

Over the last two months, it may have seemed that everywhere you went, you learned of someone who had become ill with norovirus or had Norwalk-like symptoms. Since the virus made its presence known in our community at the end of March, the Yellowstone City-County Health Department has received reports from approximately 1 percent of our population who have experienced the signs and symptoms of this hardy little virus.

According to experts at the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, these reports are probably a small sampling of the actual numbers of ill people in the community. Some experts surmise that for every person reporting an illness, there are three to four people who do not report their illnesses to the local health department.

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Public health - County officials dispense prevention information

Friday, May 19, 2006
BILL STEWART
The Oregonian

VANCOUVER -- Suspected cases of norovirus continued to increase Thursday at two Clark County nursing facilities and two Vancouver high schools.

County health officials said they were no longer tracking the number of sick students and faculty at Fort Vancouver and Hudson's Bay high schools because distinguishing norovirus cases from normal absenteeism was too difficult.

Tom Dudley, chief of secondary education for the Vancouver School District, said 481 students missed two or more periods Thursday at Fort Vancouver, and 463 missed two or more classes at Hudson's Bay. The schools each have about 1,400 students.

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May 18, 2006
Lansing State Journal
Local news briefs

The number of people who reported becoming ill after eating at Bravo Cucina Italiana remains at 360, officials said Wednesday.

The Ingham County Health Department continues to receive reports, said spokeswoman Natasha Davidson, but that information is not necessarily being added to the total.

ìWe feel like weíve collected enough data,î she said. She said it is possible some people submitted duplicate reports.

A norovirus has been blamed for the outbreak, which led the Eastwood Towne Center restaurant to voluntarily close May 11.

It reopened Tuesday after the facility was sanitized and staff were trained in personal hygiene and proper food-handling procedures.

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May 18, 2006

Bravo's back open for business. As they continue to work with the 360 people who got sick from a norovirus, the Italian restaurant is also trying to "compensate" those customers for their troubles. Restaurant officials say the numbers are lower than normal, but they were fully staffed Wednesday as they try to get back to business.

The doors are open, the food is out and the loyal customers are coming back.

Customer: "It was outstanding as always."

But things are not exactly back to normal. The restaurant acknowledges the slow start. They say they're fine with that for now, and told 6 News, "we have every expectation that our guests will return."

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By Teri Finneman, The Forum
Published Thursday, May 18, 2006

A popular Moorhead restaurant voluntarily closed Friday afternoon through Saturday after nearly 40 reports of customer illness.

The Speak Easy ñ 1001 30th Ave. S. ñ closed about 1:30 p.m. Friday after health officials began investigating the reports, said Gena Dahl, an environmental health practitioner for the city of Moorhead.

Thirty-three cases of illness have been documented, with five reports still pending, some containing multiple individuals, said Doug Schultz, a spokesman for the Minnesota Department of Health.

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Frequent Hand Washing Encouraged To Stop Spread Of Virus
May 17, 2006

VANCOUVER, Wash. -- The norovirus appears to have hit four Vancouver area schools after hundreds of students were out sick Wednesday.
The affected schools include Ellsworth Elementary where 158 of the school's 375 students stayed home Tuesday because of vomiting, diarrhea and nausea. Fourteen teachers, half the school's faculty, were also absent on Tuesday.

The other schools are Fort Vancouver High School, the Washington School for the Blind and Hudson Bay High School where 397 of the school's 1,375 students were absent.

While the cases have not officially been confirmed as norovirus, the symptoms are consistent with the virus. Officials with the Clark County Health Department are looking into what has caused this outbreak.

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MSU food safety specialist files suit because of foodborne illness
By JUSTIN KROLL
The State News
May 17, 2006

An MSU food safety specialist, who was one of more than 360 to claim illness after eating at Bravo Cucina Italiana, filed a lawsuit against the restaurant.

Attorneys from Marler Clark, a firm based in Seattle, filed the suit in Ingham County Circuit Court on Monday. Specialist Patti McNiel claims that Bravo failed to properly maintain and monitor the sanitary conditions of the restaurant, which caused her to have physical and economical damages.

Regarding the lawsuit, the Bravo offices have said they are still deciding on the defense for the case and have decided to give no comment on that situation.

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Wednesday, May 17, 2006
By TOM VOGT, Columbian staff writer

Almost 200 students were absent Tuesday at Ellsworth Elementary, a day after the school was hit by a wave of gastrointestinal illness.

The outbreak of vomiting, diarrhea and nausea is similar to symptoms reported at three local senior-living centers, where the number of ill residents and staff members has reached 70, the Clark County Health Department said Tuesday.

The symptoms are consistent with norovirus, but health officials are referring to the illness as viral gastroenteritis until results of lab tests are available.

When students arrived at Ellsworth Tuesday morning, they lined up in the library, where several Evergreen district school nurses were waiting to talk with them. In one-on-one screenings, the nurses asked about the students' health, and if they'd been sick lately.

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May 17, 2006
Associated Press
Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Vancouver, Wash. -- A wave of illness with symptoms resembling those of norovirus at a grade school has increased as Clark County health officials work to determine the source of the outbreak.

Nearly 200 students out of 478 enrolled at Ellsworth Elementary School missed classes Tuesday, a day after 120 students and 15 staff stayed home because of vomiting, diarrhea and nausea. Fourteen teachers, half the school's faculty, were out Tuesday, Principal Jerry Evans said.

The symptoms are similar to those reported at three area senior living centers, where the number of ill residents and employees rose to 70 Tuesday, 10 more than previously reported.

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May 16, 2006
Associated Press

LANSING, Mich. ó A consultant who helps restaurants address food safety issues has sued the Columbus, Ohio-based company that owns Bravo Cucina Italiana.

Pattie McNiel, who coordinates Michigan State University's food safety program and who also runs her own consulting business, filed the suit Monday. She says she became ill after eating a carryout salad from the restaurant May 7.

McNiel said she decided to sue because she told a Bravo manager two months ago about several violations she had witnessed while eating there and doesn't believe he followed up on her recommendations.

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May 17, 2006
Lansing State Journal
Editorial

For the second time this year, hundreds of people have been sickened after dining in an area restaurant.

Whether it's coincidence or part of a larger food-safety picture, this draws attention to a growing health issue - one that should prompt tougher sanctions on establishments that seriously violate public health codes.

For one thing, restaurants should not be given the option of closing their doors when an illness outbreak is suspected. They should be closed automatically by order of the county health department - which state law empowers counties to do.

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Beth Shayne
May 16, 2006

The sign on the door says come on back, even while the headline blasts the news: The people who got sick after eating at Bravo are suing.

A Seattle law firm that specializes in food safety, Marler Clark, LLC, filed a civil action on behalf of Pattie McNiel.

"While we don't think people were intentionally poisoned, we believe there was a breakdown somewhere," explains Drew Falkenstein of Marler Clark.

The firm has spoken with several possible clients already, and like they did in the recent Carrabbas case, they plan to represent as many as they can.

"It is our firmís position that everybody needs to be compensated."

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Monday, May 15, 2006
By TOM VOGT, Columbian Staff Writer

About 135 people at an Evergreen elementary school were absent Monday with the norovirus symptoms that also have sickened about 60 people at three senior-living facilities.

About 120 students and 15 staff members at Ellsworth Elementary School stayed home or were sent home Monday with vomiting, diarrhea and nausea.

Tuesday morning, district nurses will check each Ellsworth student for symptoms and send home thos wwith symptoms, said Marni Storey of the Clark County Health Department. Carol Fenstermacher, Evergreen Public Schools spokeswoman, Ellsworth was the only school in the district with a sudden wave of illness Monday; everything had been normal on Friday, she said. Ellsworth has an enrollment of about 480 students, and a staff of about 40.

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--Midday update
Lansing State Journal
Christine Rook

Ingham County Health Department now suspects a norovirus is behind 360 illnesses linked to the Bravo Cucina Italiana eatery.

"That's where my suspicion lies right now," said department Medical Director Dr. Dean Sienko.

Three restaurant patrons have been hospitalized with dehydration, he said, and the outbreak appears to have spread to people in three states.

Specimens taken from multiple sick individuals are expected to yield lab results this afternoon, confirming whether norovirus is the culprit. The virus causes vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, a low-grade fever. It is transmitted by contact and can become airborne.

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Bravo! Italian Cucina was sued Monday by a woman who suffered food poisoning after eating at the restaurant on May 7. The plaintiff is represented by Marler Clark, the Seattle law firm nationally recognized for the successful representation of foodborne illness. At least 360 people became ill with symptoms of foodborne illness after eating at the restaurant.

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By Kevin Grasha
Lansing State Journal

A consultant who helps restaurants address food safety issues - and who said she became ill after eating at Bravo Cucina Italiana - has filed a lawsuit against the company that owns the restaurant.

The suit was filed Monday on behalf of Pattie McNiel, who coordinates Michigan State University's food safety program and who also runs her own consulting business.

McNiel became ill after eating a carryout salad from the restaurant on May 7 - the same afternoon she was working with another Ingham County restaurant that had been cited for violations.

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May 15, 2006 12:49 PM PDT

County health officials are still trying to figure out what caused hundreds of people to get sick after eating at a local restaurant. Officials at the health department say it's going to take some time, but a restaurant spokeswoman says all signs point to a norovirus outbreak.

So far, 360 people have reported becoming ill after eating at Bravo. The phone calls have slowed down, but the work is far from done at the Ingham County Health Department. Officials say they're now analyzing all the information Bravo patrons have provided them, like when they dined, what foods they ate and when they became ill.

Natasha Davidson, Ingham County Health Department: "There isn't any particular food at this point that's sticking out to us, but we're still analyzing that data and there's a lot of data to put into the system still."

Officials say they've collected stool samples from some diners. They're hoping the specimens provide clues as to what caused the outbreak.

Natasha Davidson: "Until we have the lab results we cannot say for sure what the organism is that caused it."

The doors here at Bravo are closed and they'll stay closed until the management's been given the all clear from the health department.

Natasha Davidson: "There hasn't been a date set yet. We're still working with them to make sure that they've gone through the cleaning process, that the training is ongoing and that the 3rd party consultant is in there."

An apology sign is posted on the restaurant's doors, and behind the glass are empty tables, but Bravo employees are still at work, cleaning and learning what steps to take to avoid another incident.

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By Christine Rook
Lansing State Journal

Bravo Cucina Italiana is expected to stay closed through the weekend as workers sanitize the restaurant and health officials await test results.

The Eastwood Towne Center eatery voluntarily shut down Thursday afternoon after dozens of patrons reported symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, fatigue and headaches. By 4:30 p.m. Friday, the number had climbed to 280.

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Norovirus - Three facilities are shut down through Mother's Day to help contain sickness
Saturday, May 13, 2006
HOLLEY GILBERT

VANCOUVER -- Health officials are closing three Clark County care facilities for the Mother's Day weekend to help contain suspected norovirus outbreaks that have killed one person and sickened 28 in the past week.

The outbreaks are among several reported in at least three Portland-area counties since late March.

The latest outbreak on Tuesday claimed an 85-year-old resident of the Echo Ridge Adult Family Home in La Center, said Dr. Justin Denny, health officer for Clark and Skamania counties. Three other residents, all in their 80s, and three staff members at the home became ill but are recovering, said Marni Storey, public health services manager for the Health Department.

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By Bill Vander Weele
Sidney Herald

After having more than 225 county residents affected with the norovirus during the past two weeks, area health officials are hopeful that the number of cases are slowing down.

ìGenerally, it follows a bell-shape curve,î Judy LaPan, Richland County Health Department administrator, said. ìIt should be on the downside.î

LaPan, however, stresses residents need to stay vigilant in fighting the virus.

ìItís very contagious. Thatís what makes this virus so difficult,î LaPan said.

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Saturday, May 13, 2006
By TOM VOGT, Columbian staff writer

An 85-year-old resident of a care facility died Tuesday after another wave of norovirus symptoms hit three local senior-care centers.

In the past three weeks, 29 people have come down with the symptoms, which include diarrhea, vomiting, stomach cramps and nausea, Clark County health officials said Friday.

One person has been hospitalized and was scheduled to be released on Friday, said Dr. Justin Denny, Clark County health officer.

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May 12, 2006

SANTA ROSA -- Sonoma County health department officials were hopeful Friday that a norovirus that has afflicted more than 400 people at 12 nursing homes and long-term care facilities in the county, killing one, was waning.

Deputy Health Director Dr. Leigh Hall said Thursday there were 27 new cases Tuesday and 16 more on Wednesday. Ten cases were reported Thursday.

"They are down dramatically. We're down to getting only a dozen a day," Hall said. Four facilities reported no new cases this week, he said.

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Friday, May 12, 2006
By TOM VOGT, Columbian Staff Writer

An 85-year-old resident of a care facility died Tuesday after another wave of norovirus symptoms hit three Clark County sites.

In the last three weeks, 29 people have come down with the symptoms, which include diahrrea, vomiting and nausea, Clark County health officials said Friday. One person has been hospitalized, and was scheduled to be released on Friday, said Dr. Justin Denny, Clark County health officer.

The fatality, whose name was not released, was a resident of Echo Ridge, a single-family residence in La Center licensed to care for five adults. Four residents and three staff members there have become sick.

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Friday, 12 May 2006 9:40AM

Another 53 cases of the norovirus, that has run rampant through a dozen Sonoma County nursing homes since March, were reported this week.

This spring, one person has died and nearly 400 workers at nursing homes in Sebastopol, Santa Rosa and Petaluma have become infected with the highly contagious gastrointestinal virus.

Symptoms of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea usually runs their course in 24 to 48 hours, but the very common virus can be devastating for the frail and elderly.

The countyís deputy health director, Dr. Leigh Hall, thought the outbreak had run its course. Four of the nursing care facilities have seen no new cases, and another four have been virus free for several weeks.

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By Brandon Cone
Branson Daily News Staff Writer
bcone@bransondailynews.com

The Branson and Taney County health departments, in cooperation with the Radisson Hotel, will hold two new, updated training sessions on norovirus later this month.

The norovirus is a highly contagious gastro intestinal disorder.

Linn Smith, Branson health director, said the norovirus is most often seen in areas where people are gathered together in close quarters.

ìThis virus is also known as the cruise ship disease or the winter flu,î Smith said. ìOne place we might see this disease is in a nursing home or on a cruise ship.î

Symptoms include cramping, vomiting and headaches.

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Virus makes 27 ill in psychiatric unit
By DEAN OLSEN
STAFF WRITER
May 12, 2006

An outbreak of Norwalk virus that has sickened 27 patients and staff members at Memorial Medical Center the past 10 days remains confined to an adult psychiatric unit, the hospital's medical director of infection control said Thursday.

The virus, which causes diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, apparently didn't originate in the hospital's food-service operation because it hasn't turned up elsewhere in the hospital, according to Dr. Steven O'Marro, a Memorial staff member and Springfield Clinic infectious disease specialist.

People began getting sick about two weeks ago, but no one developed any life-threatening complications, and no new cases have been reported in the past five days, O'Marro said.

Fifteen patients and 12 staff members became ill, and stool samples from two of the 27 people verified the presence of the Norwalk virus, O'Marro said.

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May 11, 2006
Maryland Department of the Environment

The growing proliferation of home based aquaculture projects and oyster gardens has lured some to eat the shellfish grown for water quality improvement initiatives. Due to the potential presence of pathogens, officials at the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) urge oyster growers against doing so.

Shellfish are filter-feeding organisms; they strain the surrounding water through their gills which trap and transfer food particles to their digestive tract. If the water they are housed in is contaminated with disease-causing organisms, these organisms are also trapped and consumed as food. Because shellfish pump large quantities of water through their gills each day, even low concentrations of harmful organisms from the waters can reach dangerous levels in the shellfish. If shellfish containing these organisms are eaten raw or partially cooked, illness may result.

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GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz. A sickening experience for five people rafting down the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon.

National park officials believe it's an isolated incident.

A canyon spokeswoman says the company running the river tour notified Grand Canyon National Park officials of the illnesses late last week.

The rafting company "did hold off on the river for a day to allow the passengers a more comfortable place to recover from the illness."

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May 8, 2006

SANTA ROSA, CA (KCBS) -- Some Sonoma County nursing homes remain on lock down and are not allowing visitors after an outbreak of a virus that can be dangerous to the frail and elderly.

KCBS reporter Holly Quan says the culprit is the norovirus which is a common virus that causes nausea, vomiting and diarrhea for about up to 48 hours. It is usually called the stomach flu where it has been seen on cruise ships.

In Sonoma County the virus is blamed for the death of one person and the sickening of up to 300 other people at eight Sonoma County nursing facilities.

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5/7/2006

SANTA ROSA, CA (KCBS) -- Public health officials in Sonoma County are working to eradicate a virus outbreak that has already killed one person and sickened nearly 300 others in several nursing and residential care facilities.

Sonoma County Deputy Health officer Dr. Lee Hall tells KCBS the norovirus was first detected in March. "There were eight facilities involved in all. We've worked with them to implement measures that will keep it from spreading which included things like checking visitors when they come in to make sure they're not sick to making sure employees who are sick aren't working and stay home for at least 48 hours after they get better," he explained.

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05/05/06
SANTA ROSA (BCN)

Sonoma County public health officials said a norovirus outbreak has killed one patient and sickened 285 patients and staff members at eight nursing and residential care home facilities in three Sonoma County cities since March 14.

Deputy Public Health Officer Dr. Leigh Hall said three of the nursing and long-term residential care homes have not reported any more cases in the past three weeks.

Hall said it's believed the virus spread to the eight facilities by employees who work at more than one facility, by visitors or by a patient or patients who transferred to another facility.

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Tuesday, May 2, 2006
Associated Press

BEAVERTON, Ore. -- Health officials say there's another outbreak of norovirus in the Portland area.

Nine residents of a Beaverton senior home have come down with the disease -- and five are in the hospital.

No deaths have been reported so far in the only reported outbreak of the virus in Washington County.

Seven cases were reported to the county health department last week while two more cases appeared over the weekend.

Last month, norovirus killed three people at a retirement facility in Vancouver, Washington, and sickened another 75. And Clackamas County had an outbreak of more than 30 cases at a senior facility.

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Friday, April 28, 2006
By TOM VOGT, Columbian Staff Writer

About a month after the first case, Vancouver's norovirus outbreak "basically, is over," county health official Marni Storey said Friday.

Storey said restrictions were lifted April 21 at Cascade Inn retirement center and Thursday at Van Mall Retirement Community. Both facilities have resumed business as usual, and can accept new residents.

There are some differences, said Storey, manager of the county health department's infectious disease program.

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The Associated Press
Wednesday, April 26, 2006

ALBANY - The norovirus is suspected in a rash of illnesses that forced the cancellation of services at North Albany Community Church.

Benton County health officials tested 13 people who reported being sick. Lab specimens were sent to the state lab and are expected back later this week, health officials said Tuesday.

Pastor Dennis Holbert was one of the people who got sick over the weekend with a stomach flu virus. Holbert said he's feeling better, but still needs rest.

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