Norovirus Lawyer & Attorney : Marler Clark : Norovirus Blog

Villanova University has become the latest campus to experience an outbreak of the norovirus.

From WPVI-TV, an ABC affiliate on Channel 6, comes this report:

Villanova University is experiencing an outbreak of a gastrointestinal illness. School officials said it is most likely norovirus, the so-called "cruise ship virus."

Students began getting sick January 23rd.  Most of the 100 or so students recovered on their own.

However, several went to local emergency departments because they were dehydrated. They received intravenous fluids, and they were released.

 

The university's medical staff has consulted with the Pennsylvania Health Department, as well as Radnor, Delaware County officials, and the Montgomery County health department.

The complete WPVI report can be found here.

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Do you think it's possible that some British tourist decided the best way to get away from the norovirus outbreak would be to check into a nice Florida beach hotel? 

If that traveler exists, then just think about all those other unlucky guests at the Hilton Singer Island Resort in Riviera Beach, Florida where 83 people have been struck by the norovirus.  Here's what the Associated Press reports:

Health officials have identified a highly contagious virus as the cause of an outbreak that sickened at least 83 people at a beachfront resort hotel.

Guests and employees at the Hilton Singer Island Resort first reported the flu-like symptoms on Jan. 10.

Health officials were called in after three people were hospitalized.

Test results confirm that the outbreak was norovirus, a highly contagious virus that causes diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, cramps and other symptoms, officials said.

"It spreads easily and quickly," said Tim O'Connor, spokesman for the Palm Beach County Health Department. "We've asked them to completely disinfect everything."

AP's complete report is found here.     Also, Bill Marler gives some legal insights  here.

Bill says showing how the virus is transmitted is hard.  He asks:  "Was it foodborne?  Was it an ill worker?  Ill patron?"

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Both  the young and the old are suffering from a norovirus outbreak in Corvallis, hometown of Oregon State University.  The victims are found at the Regency Park Place Retirement Home, the Phi Delta Theta fraternity,  and the Delta Gamma Sorority, according to local press reports.

About a dozen norovirus victims are recovering at the retirement home.  Five fraternity members and ten sorority sisters are also among the victims.  The retirement home shut down its dining room and asked visitors to stay away.

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The largest private health insurance and health services company in the United Kingdom, BUPA, reports a doubling in the number of people getting sick from norovirus.  BUPA says:

"Almost twice as many people were infected with norovirus, the bug responsible for the "winter vomiting" crisis, at the end of 2007 compared with 2006, according to the Health Protection Agency (HPA).

"The HPA has received confirmation that by the end of November 2007, 1325 people had been infected with norovirus. However, the actual number is likely to be far greater than this as most people with it don't go to see a doctor or get tested for the infection. The HPA estimates that in all, between 600,000 and one million people are affected by norovirus every year.

BUPA quotes the Chairman of the Royal College of General Practitioners, Professor Steve Field , as saying:  "The number of norovirus cases this year is the highest in five years. Hospitals have been inundated by referrals and through casualty. Local GPs are also seeing a huge number of cases."

Meanwhile, British newspapers are filled with notices of hospitals closing and opening as waves of norovirus go through various communities.    The latest closure:  the Queen Elizabeth II Hospital.

Everywhere the Brits are being told that::  there isn't any particular treatment for norovirus but if infected it's important to drink lots of fluids to avoid dehydration. This is especially important for the elderly and very young children.

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You may have heard there is an outbreak of Norovirus across the pond in the United Kingdom.  How bad is it?  Pretty awful, according to this report from OnMedica News:

Current figures suggest that some 100,000 people a week in the UK are contracting norovirus, commonly known as winter vomiting disease, and the number of cases is likely to continue to rise in the early weeks of the new year.

"The Royal College of GPs has emphasized that patients contracting the virus, which causes abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, should stay at home for two days after the symptoms have gone away.

"Steve Field, chairman of the RCGP, said: “GPs are seeing a huge number of cases of patients with the norovirus. Our advice for those affected is to stay at home, take paracetamol and drink plenty of fluids.

“You should also wash your hands regularly so as not to infect anyone else and, if possible, stay at home two days after the symptoms have gone.”

The number of cases this winter is the highest since 2002 and the surge of infections is predicted to continue through much of January"

Many hospitals in the UK have been forced to close wards or whole facilities due to the Noro outbreak and they generally urge people with the disease to stay away.

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