Norovirus Lawyer & Attorney : Marler Clark : Norovirus Blog

According to press reports, at least four people were hospitalized and 53 others reported illnesses after attending wedding parties this month at a banquet hall in south suburban Mokena, leading Will County health officials to try to determine the cause.  The Health Department is looking for others who may have gotten sick after attending weddings at Di Nolfo's Banquet Inn and Catering on July 16 and 17.

Health officials believe the source of the illness is a Norovirus, a highly infectious family of viruses responsible for the majority of non-bacterial gastroenteritis outbreaks reported worldwide. Symptoms include abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, headaches, and chills.  Health officials collected and tested food from Di Nolfo's, 9425 W. 191st Street, but did not find any significant violations. None of Di Nolfo's employees have reported illnesses, officials said.

"Outbreaks like this one underscore the importance of frequent and thorough hand washing," the health department's Alpesh Patel said in a released statement. "One person with soiled hands can quickly transmit Norovirus to lots of people through contaminated surfaces or food."

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Local health officials are investigating a possible norovirus outbreak in Jefferson County.  About 40 people became ill after eating at a restaurant where a worker, who was sick, handled food. Officials won't say which restaurant was involved, WISC-TV reported.

"If we say too much more to identify it and you end up ruining their reputation and people are afraid to go there, that's not our purpose," said Gail Scott, of the Jefferson County Health Department. "Our purpose is to see that they are using good food handling practices and to get the message out to stop the secondary spread."

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After a Sunday church service last week, 40 members of a Cary Baptist church caught a stomach virus, including the pastor's family.

About 140 people gathered for Sunday worship at North Cary Baptist Church on Reedy Creek Road and then ate a pot luck lunch together, said Pastor Mark Minervino.

Soon after, people began falling ill and vomiting, he said. At first, they thought it was food poisoning, but the illness passed between family members at different times.

They later discovered a child in the church had been ill two days before the pot luck. The child was not there Sunday, but relatives were, Minervino said.

No one has been hospitalized, Minervino said. The pastor spoke with a Wake County Health Department official, who told him it is probably the norovirus, a stomach bug that swept through Wake County earlier this year.

 

Read more

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According to press reports, a Princess Cruises ship was back on course Monday after the company says nearly a hundred passengers came down with norovirus. The cruise line says the incident sparked what it called a "super-sanitization" of the Sapphire Princess, which had visited three Alaska ports.  Princess stopped short of calling it a quarantine, but says it did ask some of the infected passengers to stay in their rooms throughout their journey to stop the virus from spreading.

The Sapphire Princess stopped in Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway on June 1 through June 3. Princess officials confirm 96 cases of the gastrointestinal illness norovirus, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea.  The ship arrived in Seattle Sunday and offloaded off several unhappy-looking passengers.

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According to the Harvard Crimson, after closing for more than a month due to a norovirus outbreak that sickened over 300 people, the Harvard Faculty Club will reopen for private events on Monday.  The Club, which had been undergoing inspections for food safety, reopened for overnight guests on May 6. The restaurant portion of the Club will officially reopen in early June.  The Club first closed in late March due to an outbreak of the gastrointestinal virus, which is caused by the consumption of contaminated food or contact with infected individuals. The establishment reopened Easter weekend but closed two days later, after the reporting of more than 100 new cases of the illness, according to The Boston Globe.  The Cambridge Department of Public Health authorized the Club to reopen in late April, but officials at the Club—which caters to Harvard faculty, alumni, and other guests—decided to delay reopening the restaurant service until after Commencement.

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The Minnesota Department of Health is investigating a report that people got sick from eating the food at a fundraiser held at a church.  The banquet took place Sunday at the Lakewood Evangelical Free Church in Baxter, Minn. The problem was reported Thursday.  The event was a benefit for New Pathways of Brainerd, a group that helps homeless families with children find safe transitional shelter. It is called "transitional" because the organization also works to help people learn the skills they need to obtain their own home.  The fundraiser was catered by Baxter's Prairie Bay Restaurant, according to the MDH.

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An outbreak of norovirus has shut down three oyster beds in Louisiana -- the largest oyster harvest shutdown in the state in a decade. Despite the shutdown, state health officials still aren't sure if oysters are a problem.  The sickness isn't fatal in most circumstances, but it will make you extremely uncomfortable.

"We're not seeing deadly illness but we're seeing illness of upset stomach, vomiting and diarrhea," said state health official Dr. Jimmy Guidry.  Dr. Guidry said even though they have linked dozens of illnesses to the eating of oysters, they still haven't determined if it's in the oyster beds, or if the virus came from somewhere else.  "Is it in the oyster, is it in the individual serving the oysters?" said Guidry. "Those are the questions that are difficult to answer."

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According to the Boston Globe, the Harvard Faculty Club has been closed after a possible norovirus outbreak. Several guests first reported feeling ill on Saturday, and the school’s health and safety team immediately responded. The team, along with the Cambridge Department of Public Health, on Tuesday believed that a person or persons with the virus passed it on to people at the club, according to Martin.  She said the sick patrons reported “symptoms of a viral gastrointestinal ailment,’’ such as nausea and diarrhea. Martin could not say last night how many patrons had fallen ill.

Harvard is not the only local campus to have a possible brush with a norovirus of late. An illness presumed to be caused by a norovirus has sickened 75 students at Emerson College in Boston since the middle of last month, but public health and college officials now believe the outbreak is waning. On March 14, two students reported to campus health services complaining of stomach cramps, Andrew Tiedemann, Emerson’s vice president for communications, said yesterday. At its peak, 10 to 13 students a day were seeking help for their illness.

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Recently, officials with the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed that Norovirus caused intestinal illness on a third straight cruise from South Carolina earlier this month. The Norovirus sickened almost 420 people aboard Celebrity Mercury, which returned to Charleston on March 18. On two previous cruises this year, hundreds of passengers were sickened by Norovirus on the same ship.

The South Carolina Department of Health says there have been more than forty outbreaks of symptoms associated with the Norovirus across the state. DHEC says they have received reports of Norovirus from every county in South Carolina.

So, is South Carolina sickening the ships or the other way around?

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It's not uncommon to hear of norovirus outbreaks sickening cruise customers. Now, a recent outbreak of the virus could be traced back to an airline flight in Ohio. The Columbus Dispatch writes "norovirus is to blame for an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness that sickened at least 18 student-athletes and one coach and postponed the NCAA Division I Men's Swimming and Diving Championships."

The Dispatch says "public-health workers investigating the situation hadn't nailed down late today where or how the athletes picked up the bug," but they did pick up one common thread; The coach and all of the sickened athletes arrived in Columbus via an American Airlines flight from Dallas/Fort Worth.

The Dispatch writes "the flight isn't the only target of the investigation, but it has been identified as something that the sickened individuals have in common, (Dr. Mysheika LeMaile-Williams, the city's medical director) said." LeMaile-William adds "it's also possible they were exposed to something here in Columbus and we're concerned about that." The Dispatch says officials from American did not respond to a request for a comment.

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The Celebrity Mercury returned to the Port of Charleston early Thursday to disembark guests.

The cruise liner was struck again with an outbreak of the norovirus and had to return a day earlier than scheduled.

The cruise line says 364 of the vessel's more than 1,800 passengers took ill on a cruise which left March 8.

This was the third consecutive tour where passenger were sickened with the stomach bug. Celebrity says the ship will remain in port through Sunday and extensive cleaning will again be performed.

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Another food recall is in effect for parts of Oregon. Oregon Oyster Farms Incorporated is recalling oyster meat and oysters in the shell from Yaquina Bay at Newport. The recall involves one-half pint containers, pint containers, half gallon containers, and four-gallon buckets including all large, medium, small, extra-small, and petite Pacific oysters, Kumamoto oysters, and Yaquina native oysters. All shucked product product containers with sell or use by dates of February 15th through March 11th are included. The Oregon Department of Health says the recall is due to potential norovirus contamination.

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Norovirus is a serious virus that causes nausea, diarrhea and severe cramps. This disease, often associated with cruise ship sickness, has made resurgence in the last few weeks. This time it is affecting retirement/assisted living homes. The virus has turned up in several of these facilities in Florida and South Carolina.

Communities in and around Sarasota, Florida and Charleston, South Carolina have reported an increase in the activity of the virus in the community. Schools and work place absences have increased in the last few weeks. Now, the virus has entered the retirement community where it can cause severe damage to a weak immune system.

Health officials are tracking the progress of this virus to see if it is going to spread quickly through the country. Norovirus will either stop as quickly as it started or spread like wildfire. There is no distinct pattern to the virus at all.

The best way to avoid the virus is to wash your hands continually throughout the day. Soap and water are your best defense. Carry hand sanitizer with you for convenience, but remember soap and water is a better solution. Norovirus has been associated with death in the past. It is very important to use as many preventative measures as possible to avoid the risk of getting or spreading the virus.

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The Wake County Environmental Services has confirmed that four out of the 150 people who became ill while attending the YMCA Youth and Government conference at the Sheraton Hotel over the weekend had the norovirus.

Lab results received Monday confirms the results and the County continues to investigate the source of the norovirus and has put precautionary measures in place to reduce the spread of illness.  On Saturday, more than 150 youth and advisors reported experiencing nausea and vomiting while attending the conference. They were evaluated and treated by Wake EMS at the hotel. Six people were hospitalized.

"Norovirus investigations are complex," said Wake County Environmental Health and Safety director Andre Pierce. "We have to interview everyone involved, look at lab samples and work closely with food handlers and preparers. In some cases, we never definitively find the source of the norovirus."  The County's epidemiological team has interviewed 152 people and have inspected several food service establishments.

The 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. In most people the illness is self-limiting with symptoms lasting for about one or two days. In general, children experience more vomiting than adults.

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Officials are limiting access to the Croasdaile Village retirement community after dozens of residents became ill with what's believed to be norovirus.

The facility has 630 residents - which range from independent living, assisted living and nursing care residents. Of those, about 80 residents have - or have had - the illness. About 50 of 300 employees have also been affected.

To try and stop the spread, officials are working closely with the Durham Health Department which recommended limiting access to the facility. A command center has been set up and officials say residents can get anything they need brought to them. Family members can also drop things off.

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Visitation has been restricted on a unit at Bon Secours DePaul Medical Center this week because of an outbreak of norovirus, a highly contagious stomach bug that causes vomiting, diarrhea and fever.

Lynne Zultanky, spokeswoman for the hospital, said staff identified the symptoms of norovirus in patients on a transitional care unit on Friday, and the diagnosis was confirmed by the Norfolk Department of Public Health on Monday. She said a dozen patients were identified with symptoms of norovirus, along with 10 staff members.

No further admissions are being made to the transitional care unit, and no visitors have been allowed on that unit. Zultanky said the hospital is working with the health department to prevent the spread of the virus.

John Monroe, epidemiologist with the Norfolk health department, said the restrictions will be in place until three days have passed with no new illnesses.

Norovirus is a viral illness that can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramping, low-grade fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, and tiredness. It usually lasts one or two days and rarely has complications.

Larry Hill, spokesman for the eastern region of the Virginia Department of Health, said norovirus outbreaks are more common in late fall, winter and early spring because people congregate together, making the virus easier to spread, particularly in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, day care centers and schools.

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The Advocate reported today, “oyster bed closures “safety net.”

The closure of some oyster harvesting grounds in southwest Louisiana this week highlights how pollution can impact the state’s fishing industry. The state Department of Health and Hospitals halted oyster harvesting in lower Calcasieu Lake on Thursday on the suspicion that oysters from the area might have been linked to a norovirus outbreak in North Carolina.

Public health officials in Raleigh, N.C., reported that about 280 people became sick last month after dining at an oyster bar that served oysters from the area in question.

Norovirus is a name applied to a group of highly contagious and fairly common illnesses that cause flu-like symptoms for one to two days.

It can find its way into oysters by way of sewage run-off.

Norovirus and other food-borne illnesses linked to run-off are such a concern that Louisiana has a system in place that calls for the precautionary closure of oyster harvesting in certain areas based on the conditions and times of year that can be problematic.

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The U.S. government warned consumers Sunday to avoid oysters from San Antonio Bay in Texas after investigators found the oysters caused a highly contagious virus.

Consumers who bought San Antonio Bay-harvested oysters on or after November 16 should throw them away, the Food and Drug Administration announced. The agency also advised restaurant managers and grocers not to serve or sell the Texas oysters.

About a dozen cases of norovirus-related illnesses in North Carolina and South Carolina were "definitely linked" to oysters recently harvested from the San Antonio Bay, FDA spokeswoman Rita Chappelle told CNN.

Texas' health department has already recalled all oysters harvested from the bay between November 16 and November 25, the health department said in a statement on its Web site. San Antonio Bay has also been closed to commercial oyster harvesting, the statement said.

Texas authorities are still investigating how the oysters were contaminated and where they were distributed, Chappelle said.

Noroviruses cause gastroenteritis, also known as the stomach flu. They are highly contagious, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Aside from contracting the virus from food or drink, one can become ill by touching contaminated surfaces and then their mouth, or by coming into direct contact with an infected individual.

Symptoms associated with the virus include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramping. Affected individuals often experience low-grade fever, chills, headache, muscle aches and fatigue. The illness typically lasts one to two days according to the CDC.

Anyone who ate the now-recalled oysters and who are now showing symptoms of norovirus should see a doctor and contact the local health department.

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A study suggests one possible culprit: dirty restrooms.  Most restrooms on these ships are not being properly cleaned, the authors say, and a sanitation program run by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not detect the dirty ones.

According to researchers writing in the Nov. 1 issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases, the C.D.C. identified contamination with norovirus as the problem in almost all of these infections. But the ships generally had high passing scores on the inspection closest to their outbreaks. In fact, their scores were on average higher than those of ships with passengers who had no episodes of diarrheal disease.

Norovirus can survive for weeks on surfaces at room temperature, and it is difficult to kill. “It’s a tough virus,” said the lead author of the study, Dr. Philip C. Carling. “It isn’t killed by alcohol hand rubs. Chlorine bleach is the only thing that works.”

There were 19 outbreaks of intestinal illness during the 3-year study period. Although the survey was not designed to detect norovirus or establish the cause of any illness, the restroom cleanliness scores were slightly lower on ships that had outbreaks than on those that had none.

The difference was not statistically significant, but the authors said the findings were consistent with the possibility that restroom contamination contributed to norovirus epidemics.

“We’re not saying that poor cleaning causes norovirus outbreaks,” Dr. Carling said, adding, “I believe that one or more people with norovirus who handle food, or possibly a passenger, comes down with norovirus, and substandard hygiene serves as a facilitator of the spread in a closed population.”

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A norovirus, which can be passed by food, likely was what killed a Weston, FL dentist who was one of four friends to get sick shortly after eating lunch at Weston Hills Country Club in June, a new Broward County Health Department report says.

But the report this week stopped short of naming the club as the source of the virus, and state regulators have taken no disciplinary action. Dr. Edward Nacht could have caught norovirus from his chicken quesadilla lunch, because at least one food-service worker at the club had it, but lab tests did not prove it, the report says.

"This report is not showing any punitive actions," said department spokeswoman Candy Sims, who declined to elaborate.

The club has denied wrongdoing or that Nacht died from his lunch. A spokeswoman could not be contacted for comment despite calls to her office and mobile phone.

But Nacht's family said the test results show what happened.

"If Dr. Nacht hadn't eaten there, he would still be alive today," Dr. Jason Hirsh, Nacht's son-in-law and dental partner, said Friday."Norovirus was the cause of the outbreak and there was norovirus in the employees."

Norovirus, a common cause of disease known for outbreaks on cruise ships, spreads most often from fecal material on unwashed hands.

Nacht and three friends ate lunch at the club after playing golf, and all got sick within a day. Nacht never recovered, and died days later in a hospital. A state inspection found food safety violations, including improperly warm coolers and raw foods touching each other. Health officials found 21 others who got sick after eating at the club in that time frame, but did not link them to Nacht.

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Noroviruses are part of a group of viruses understood to be the most common cause of stomach upset. They cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, and people may also have a fever and head and muscle pains. Although an individual’s symptoms may pass in one or two days, the disease is highly contagious and remains in the faeces for several weeks afterwards.

Finland was hit by outbreaks of the bug in May and June, and analysis confirmed that Polish raspberries were the cause. The fruits are now suspected as having caused the new cases have been reported in the south since the beginning of this month. Evira has not said now many people are currently known to have become sick, but they are thought to have been infected after eating desserts and cakes made with frozen raspberries that have not been heated before use. The virus can enter the fruit through contaminated irrigation water, and it stays alive and contagious during freezing. In order to safeguard against infection, users of foreign frozen raspberries should heat the fruit to 90 ºC for at least two minutes, says Evira. Slight heating after defrosting is not enough to ensure the raspberries are safe.

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When I was in England in May I tried to get reservations at Heston Blumenthal's Fat Duck.  Whether is was my profession or that it was actually busy, I do not know.  However, now more than 500 diners who suffered food poisoning after eating at the Fat Duck restaurant have been offered a free meal.

A norovirus outbreak hit the Michelin-starred establishment in Berkshire for six weeks in January and February.  Although the restaurant denied lapses in its food preparation, health investigators criticised its response in a recent report.  During the norovirus outbreak, diners reported bouts of vomiting and diarrhoea.

In its report released earlier this month, the Health Protection Agency said the norovirus was probably introduced via shellfish. But it said the outbreak of food poisoning was worsened by the Bray restaurant's "delayed response". Investigators noted several weaknesses in the restaurant's procedures at the establishment in Bray which may have lead to the spread of the virus. These included a delayed response to the illness, staff working when they should have been off sick and the use of the wrong environmental cleaning products.

Perhaps next time - NOT.

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 The New York Times says the Fat Duck restaurant is one of the world's best, so it must be true.  We thought it might be interesting to read the British Health Protection Agency's report on last winter's Norovirus outbreak that made 529 duck diners sick.  In part it says:

The investigation was conducted by the HPA and Environmental Health Officers from the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. Berkshire East Primary Care Trust was also involved. The final report has been delayed due to the swine flu pandemic which required priority response from the Health Protection Agency.

Investigations focused on laboratory testing of diners with symptoms of diarrhoea and vomiting (where possible); analysis of detailed questionnaires sent to others who reported similar illness; investigation of illness among staff; examination of the restaurant environment and food processing, handling and supply; laboratory testing of food samples.

Putting together findings from all these parts of the investigation, the main conclusions were that:

• There was a large outbreak of food poisoning among diners at the Fat Duck Restaurant in January and February 2009, with more than 500 reporting illness - over 15 percent of those dining there during this period
• The organism responsible was norovirus which was probably introduced via shellfish (more diners who ate shellfish dishes reported illness). Oysters were served raw; razor clams may not have been appropriately handled or cooked; tracing of shellfish to source showed evidence of contamination and there have been reports of illness in other establishments associated with oysters from the same source
• The outbreak continued for at least six weeks (between January 6 and February 22) because of ongoing transmission at the restaurant - which may have occurred through continuous contamination of foods prepared in the restaurant or by person-to-person spread between staff and diners or a mixture of both
• Several weaknesses in procedures at the restaurant may have contributed to ongoing transmission including: delayed response to the incident; staff working when they should have been off sick and using the wrong environmental cleaning products
• Delays in notification of illness may have affected the ability of the investigation to identify the exact reason for the norovirus contamination.

The Fat Duck told the New York Times it knew of no employee who worked while sick.

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Nick Christensen, writing in The Hillsboro Argus, reports that residents at the Jennings McCall Center in Forest Grove, OR have been in quarantine since Aug. 11 after an outbreak of norovirus.

Adella MacDonald, chief executive officer of the Jennings McCall Center, said the first case of norovirus came in on Aug. 7. After consulting with county health officials, a quarantine was placed.

At the outbreak's peak, 23 staff members and 21 of the facility's 121 residents had contracted the virus, MacDonald said. One resident was taken to the hospital with dehydration, but nobody was kept overnight.

"We're very fortunate," she said.

Residents were allowed out on their porches for fresh air, and had meals brought to their rooms. Those residents who had access to the outside world without going through the central facility were able to leave with family, MacDonald said.

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The Treyarnon Bay area of North Cornwall (see lower left area on map) has an outbreak of sickness and diarrhea that has now been confirmed as Norovirus.

Since late July,  about 200 people have suffered symptoms in the area.

South West Peninsula Health Protection Unit, NHS Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Cornwall Council and the Environment Agency are working together on the outbreak which has mostly affected people staying at vacation hotels, although no single source of the infection has been established.

The outbreak has been confirmed through laboratory testing as Norovirus, a common stomach bug causing an illness which usually only lasts a day or two clearing up by itself.
 

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Managers of institutions like the Emeritus Pavilion at Crossing Point in Orlando will breathe a sign of relief this year when mass illness turns out to be ordinary norovirus and not Swine Flu.

The Emeritus Pavilion--a multi-story facility for both independent  and assisted living—however still finds itself in the middle of a mini quarantine with visitors being turned away with as many as ten residents are recovering from gastrointestinal problems including vomiting and diarrhea.

The outbreak is being investigated by the Orange County Health Department, which is collecting food and stool samples at the nursing home.   Health inspectors and staff are being allowed to come and go from the facility

Swine Flu has been ruled out as the cause of the illnesses.   The Health Department suspects Noroviruss, which can come on quickly.

The Emeritus Pavilion offers both Alzheimer’s care and respite care during short term stays. 

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If there is a more dirty, dangerous job than forest fire fighting, we'd like to hear about it.  Earlier this month north of Reno along the edge of the Sierra Nevada wild fires required the help of about 600 forest fire fighters.

Now fire fighters on the Tailer 1 and Red Rock fires are testing positive for norovirus.  The exact number sick was not yet known, according to the Washoe District Health Department.  Cases of 24 fire personnel are being investigated, including 18 fire fighters and six contract staff members.

While fire fighters probably do not come into close contact with one another while on the line, they are close enough during down time for the highly contagious norovirus to spread.   From the time one is infected with norovirus to up to two weeks after recovery, he or she is contagious. 

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New Zealand's Manawatu Standard is keeping score on the ongoing Norovirus outbreaks on the country's North Island. Staff Writer Janine Rankin reports:

Nearly 400 people in Palmerston North and Horowhenua have been stricken by the bug norovirus in the past three months.

The figure doesn't include more than 150 Palmerston North Hospital patients and staff who were ill during March and April, and an undisclosed number since the second week of June.

While the hospital has locked most of its doors against visitors, restricted entrance to most wards and shut down visitor lifts to control its outbreak, the incidence of the bug in the community has waned since April.

MidCentral Public Health Unit health protection officer Peter Wood confirmed 15 outbreaks of gastroenteritis had been reported in three months, and in 12 of them, norovirus was confirmed as the cause.

Most of the outbreaks were in residential institutions such as rest homes, but two were not. Check out the rest of her story in the Manawatu Standard.

 

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New Zealand's Manawatu Standard is keeping score on the ongoing Norovirus outbreaks on the country's North Island. Staff Writer Janine Rankin reports:

 

Nearly 400 people in Palmerston North and Horowhenua have been stricken by the bug norovirus in the past three months.

The figure doesn't include more than 150 Palmerston North Hospital patients and staff who were ill during March and April, and an undisclosed number since the second week of June.

While the hospital has locked most of its doors against visitors, restricted entrance to most wards and shut down visitor lifts to control its outbreak, the incidence of the bug in the community has waned since April.

MidCentral Public Health Unit health protection officer Peter Wood confirmed 15 outbreaks of gastroenteritis had been reported in three months, and in 12 of them, norovirus was confirmed as the cause.

Most of the outbreaks were in residential institutions such as rest homes, but two were not. 

 

 

 

 

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Residents of a California senior housing complex canceled group meals and activities to combat a suspected outbreak of norovirus, health officials said.

More than 20 of the 160 residents at Oakmont Gardens in Santa Rosa, CA reported flu-like symptoms, primarily nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, according to David Peironnet, executive director of the independent and assisted living senior apartment complex.

Ill residents are "staying to themselves," Peironnet said, while others are free to move about the facility, which is not quarantined.

Highly contagious norovirus, often associated with cruise ships, hospitals and other semi-closed communities, has sickened about 2,000 people in long-term care and skilled nursing facilities in California's Sonoma County since 2006.

It is believed to have been a contributing factor in the deaths of seven people in the last three years.

More on the outbreak can be found in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat.
 

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It is the cool season down under. New Zealand is experiencing temperatures in the 50's this time of year.

Maybe that is the reason for a soaring number of norovirus cases in Timaru, the fishing and cargo port on the South island. And, the outbreak is centered on Timaru Hospital where in the last 24 hours 19 patients and six staff members were suffering from norovirus symptoms.

The norovirus outbreak is so serious, the hospital serving a community of over 42,000 has decided to postpone elective surgeries. It put both its medical and surgical wards on lockdown.

Eleven surgeries have been postponed so far, according to clinical services general manager Christine Nolan, but none was cancelled. 

"Surgery lists are being drawn up to include more cases of day surgery which allow people to recover at home instead of in-patient surgery requiring a lengthy recovery in hospital," Nolan told the Tamaru Herald.

The New Zealand newspaper has more here.

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Twenty-three people who arrived on the Rocky Mountaineer train from Calgary to Vancouver were quarantined in their rooms at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler yesterday with Norovirus symptoms.

Public health officials confirmed the guests of the pricy hotel were being kept in their rooms. The sick were members of a 100-member tour group from the Brisbane area in Australia.

Dr. Paul Martiquet, public health officer with Vancouver Coastal Health, said on Monday that some members of another, similar tour group from the same area also came down with the virus last week.

Martiquet confirmed that the Chateau guests had Norwalk or Norovirus virus. Healthy members of the Australian tour group were allowed to move on to the Empress Hotel in Victoria.

For more, go here.

The virus usually takes about 24 hours to run its course, and as with many viruses, frequent handwashing is key to preventing contracting it from others, Martiquet said.

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 A norovirus outbreak at the Columbus, GA-based Gardens at Calvary means people will have to limit their visits to the long-term care facility.

Several residents at the Gardens are ill with norovirus. The voluntary limit on the number of visitors entering the home took effect last week as control measures were implemented.

The Gardens at Calvary is located on Moon Road in Columbus.  The local health department issued the following information to the public:

Noroviruses are found in the stool or vomit of infected people. People can become infected with the virus in several ways, including:

• eating food or drinking liquids that are contaminated with norovirus;
• touching surfaces or objects contaminated with norovirus, and then placing their hand in their mouth;
• having direct contact with another person who is infected and showing symptoms (for example, when caring for someone with illness, or sharing foods or eating utensils with someone who is ill).

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Up in the most northwest corner of the United States, officials at the Eagle Creek Elementary School in Arlington, WA are happy to be sending in the cleaning crews to scrub things down.

That's because the 100 students and staff who got sick at the school have Norovirus, not the Swine Flu. It's just another reminder that the Norovirus season is not over yet.

The Snohomish County Health District says about 20 percent of the elementary school's student body plus some staff members are ill.  They are suffering all the Norovirus symptoms including  nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramps. Symptoms typically last one to two days

The Everett Herald has a story here.

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We are certain we could greatly up the number of hits on this blog if we re-named it "Swine Flu Rumors," but that would be wrong.

However, we have seen and for a time will continue to see national reporters asking federal health officials about rumors of Swine Flu that are in fact nothing more than our old friend, the Norovirus.

Take UOP in Des Plaines, IL for example. Its a manufacturing technology company and 46 of its workers were suddenly out with flu-like symptoms.

A Cook County Department of Public Health investigation found all were down with Norovirus and it was traced to an ill food worker.

So it was food-borne illness, and rumors of Swine Flu were proved to be unfounded.

Still we have brought it up, here are the latest Swine Flu numbers for the United States along with the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) statement from this morning:

Continue Reading...

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Going into last weekend, California's Yolo County Health Department went public with the news that the city of Davis is experiencing an outbreak of norovirus with 70 already ill. We cannot say whether Yolo County got the word out early or late Friday, but we suspect late because it really did not show up in the news until this morning. According to Yolo County:

Health officials are providing targeted community education to control the outbreak. “Norovirus can be contained fairly quickly when control measures are started and maintained consistently,” states Bruce Sarazin, Director of the Yolo County Health Department Environmental Health Division. The Health Department has provided Norovirus control guidelines to all affected institutions, businesses, and individuals and will closely monitor the situation.

Maybe the "targeted community education" would have been more effective if Yolo County had not wasted the weekend in getting the word out.    Go here for the story in today's Woodland Daily Democrat.   And, remember to be careful out there.   The norovirus season is not over yet.

 

 

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 Shaw Hall, a central cafeteria and dorm on the Michigan State University campus, is the latest victim of a norovirus outbreak. About 30 MSU students got the vomit disease.

The Shaw Hall cafeteria is closed until at least Saturday morning, said university spokesperson Jason Cody.  According to the Detroit Free Press:

Ingham County Health Department Medical Director Dean Sienko said the department had a hunch it was norovirus, and started their control measures ahead of the lab results, which he said gives them the advantage over the virus.

“We’re not out of the woods yet,” Sienko said. “We know at least what our enemy is.” A few more students have appeared at Sparrow Hospital today, he said, but nothing like the mass of students that flooded the emergency room Wednesday, starting at 1:30 a.m.

Sienko said this outbreak is not food-related. Norovirus is spread easily by contact with infected individuals, sharing their food or drink, or contacting surfaces contaminated by the virus.

Cody said disinfection procedures are also in place at dorms besides Shaw Hall where sick students lived.

For more from the Free Press, go here.

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Babson College is calling students back to classes after a norovirus outbreak that made dozens of students ill at the Wellesley campus during the last week.

All regular and extracurricular activities were being held Wednesday, according to Babson spokesman Michael Chmura.
How many students actually returned to classes was not known.

Chmura said students who had experienced symptoms of the virus within the last 48 hours were advised to stay in their dorms and not return to classes.

Through Tuesday night, Babson was reporting that 83 students had visited campus Health Services since the outbreak began, while 42 students had called to report symptoms. Some faculty and staff members also became ill.

For more, go here.

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The Norovirus season is not giving up just yet.
In Canada, the Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region (RQHR) closed Unit 4B on March 11 after the virus was discovered.
During the four-day outbreak three patients were confirmed to have Norovirus while an additional nine patients showed symptoms of the disease.
Further south in the Washington State town of Kennewick, the Life Care Center is on a "lockdown" after nursing home residents came down with what's suspected to be the highly contagious norovirus.
The virus most commonly known for outbreaks on cruise ships is believed to have sickened a third of the 95 residents, though tests to confirm the virus can take several days, according to its director of nursing.
One resident was confirmed Monday to be infected with norovirus. A few residents remain hospitalized to make sure they don't get too dehydrated.
Even out in Hawaii, where winter is not an issue, two nursing care facilities on Maui have reported a large norovirus outbreak over the last couple of weeks.
Also earlier this month in Idaho, an outbreak of norovirus at the State Correctional Institution has led to a suspension of visitation at the medium security prison south of Boise, for several days.
.

 

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The MS Oosterdam is back at sea today sailing its way toward the Mexican Riviera after docking yesterday in San Diego with a boatload of passengers sick with norovirus.

While docked, the crew disinfected the boat, which was back at sea Saturday night.

How many of its 2,600 passengers were sick is not really known--easily more than 100. But since cruise ships lie about drowning their passengers, we doubt they keep good track of how many are heaving their lunches over the rail.

Symptoms due to norovirus include diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.

 

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More than 60 Massachusetts hospitals and long-term care facilities this winter reported outbreaks of illnesses likely caused by norovirus, according to the state's Department of Public Health.

State health officials worked with each of the facilities to ensure proper infection control procedures were followed.  Since January, eight Massachusetts food-handling facilities and three schools or day cares have also been stricken by outbreaks of gastrointestinal sickness, according to figures from the DPH. 

Noroviruses are a group of particularly strong viruses that cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, according to DPH officials.

The viruses are spread easily through food and by direct physical contact. The illness can also spread through contact with contaminated surfaces, like countertops and door knobs.

A norovirus infection usually results in an unpleasant, short-term illness, but can be more serious for infants, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems.

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The Post-Bulletin, Rochester MN is reporting that Olmsted County, MN is experiencing one of the worst norovirus seasons in its recent history.   The Post-Bulletin says:

"The winter of 2008-2009 may be recorded as one of the worst Norovirus virus seasons in Olmsted County in 25 years," the county's Web site says.

 

Norovirus, contained in fecal matter, causes severe vomiting and diarrhea. It is spread from poorly washed hands that touch the mouth or when people eat contaminated food.

Larry Edmonson, director of disease prevention and control at Olmsted County Public Health, said four outbreaks happened in the last four months of 2008. Outbreaks occurred because of contaminated food at two weddings, a holiday office party and a restaurant.

"I've been doing public health in Olmsted County since 1981," Edmonson said. "This is by far the worst season that I've run into."

A conservative estimate is that 100 to 200 people became ill during the outbreaks, Edmonson said, "and then many, many more in the community."

For the rest of the story, go here.

 

 

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 Maine is one of the places we'd think you could go to escape from a norovirus outbreak.  Today, however, the Maine Center for Disease Control & Prevention announced the state was dealing with two outbreak concerns.   It warned about the national Salmonella outbreak AND it announced the state is in the middle of its own Norovirus outbreak.

The Center reports there are at least 14 cases of a stomach flu known as norovirus gastroenteritis that have been reported in six Maine counties, Most cases are associated with long-term care facilities.

The symptoms are typically rapid onset of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramping. Low-grade fever, chills, muscle aches and headache may also occur. The virus lasts one to two days for most people, and dehydration is a common complication, the center said.

For more about Maine, go here.

 

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 Norovirus is suspected of making a dozen people at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor sick.  Tests to confirm that suspicion are underway.   

 According to the Ann Arbor News,  a new business school cafeteria was cleaned and sanitized after seven food service workers and eight people who ate there reported becoming sick.

The cafeteria is in a new $145 million building at the Ross School of Business on the UM campus.

Nearby public restrooms and public spaces were also cleaned and sanitized before the new cafeteria was re-opened Tuesday.

Michigan has been hard-hit by norovirus this year.  Go here for our last report.

 

 Nearby public bathrooms and public spaces also were cleaned and sanitized. 

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Next month,  there may be as many as four to five million people going to the Inaugural of the 44th President of the United States.   Many of those millions will pass through or stay in Montgomery County, Maryland, which is immediately adjacent to the District of Columbia, the federal city.

And guess what?  There is nice norovirus outbreak cooking away there now!

According to the Denver Examiner online news service:  

"A county health department spokeswoman, said Tuesday that outbreaks have been reported at two nursing homes and a business luncheon. She says that a group of county residents also became ill after attending a Florida wedding  where they likely were infected.

The virus has affected about 75 people since mid-November."

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With the one-time titans of Detroit in Washington D.C. to beg for money to continue , the nation's highest unemployment rate, and state and local taxes going up, you might think Michigan has had enough already.

But it Michigan might also be looking at a mean winter of norovirus as there is another possible outbreak underway, this one near Lansing. The local NEWS 10 reports that:

Norovirus is likely what's making people sick at an adult retirement home in Eaton County.

Dr. Robert Schirmer, Medical Director of Barry-Eaton Health Department, confirms there is a "presumptive" norovirus situation at the "Hope Landing Assisted Living Community" in Charlotte.

He says both staff and residents report vomiting and diarrhea, and because they don't have fever or blood in their stool, the characteristics of the illness indicate it is likely norovirus.

Schirmer says Hope Landing is restricting visitors, bleaching high-touch areas, and keeping people from coming in, all in an attempt to keep visitors from getting infected. He's not sure right now how many people have the virus.

Michigan's Hope College just went through its own norovirus outbreak.  See below here.

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The Ottawa County Health Department has confirmed the recent illness at Hope College was caused by a norovirus.

Officials say there were 518 reported cases among students, faculty and staff since November 6th. The outbreak has since subsided with no new cases.

Initially tests came back inconclusive, but health officials described it as noro-like. Victims suffered symptoms similar to what many call the stomach flu.

Ottawa County Medical Director, Dr. Paul Heidel says this the largest single norovirus outbreak ever in Michigan.

Our original report was: Holland, Michigan Campus Hopes Norovirus Too Shall Pass

We do want to  correct one item there.  Hope is located in Southwest Michigan, not Eastern Michigan.  We've been there, but clearly not enough!

 

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Sellery Hall on the campus of the University of Wisconsin at Madison appears to be ground zero for a norovirus outbreak at UW. The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports:

"As many as 45 students at UW-Madison are sick with the norovirus.

Many of the students live in the Sellery dormitory.

Symptoms of norovirus illness usually include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and some stomach cramping. Those affected can also have a low-grade fever, chills, headache, muscle aches and a general sense of tiredness.

Health officials aren't considering it an outbreak because the virus has been contained."

Located at 821 W. Johnson in Madison, Sellery is named for turn-of-the-century UW history professor, liberal arts dean, and acting UW President George Clark Sellery.

 

 

 

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A reader tipped us off over the weekend to the growing Norovirus outbreak at Hope College in Eastern Michigan.   By this morning, Kym Reinstadler at The Grand Rapids Press was reporting more than 400 students and staff at Hope College were suffering from the virus, which the Brits so lovingly refer to as "the vomit disease."  Here's some of that report:

Hope College officials say since Friday, more than 400 staff and students have come down with symptoms of the nasty flu that has been knocking down people like bowling pins.  The small liberal arts college is now unlikely to open before Wednesday, according to the college...

"About half my friends have gotten sick and several didn't go to a clinic because it's a viral illness and doctors can't really do anything for you, anyway," said Katie Opatik-Duff, a freshman.

She created a Facebook page for the campus community called "Hope College: The Great Plague of 2008," because she wanted to find out how many people the brief but miserable illness laid low.

About one third of the 3,200 campus community had registered at the site Sunday, 14 percent of whom said they are sick or had been.

"It's a pretty good representative sample, and based on it my estimate is that 400 people got sick," said Duff, who returned home to Middleville on Friday to try to avoid getting sick. She lives in Dykstra Hall, which was hard-hit by the virus.

Based in Holland, MI, Hope College was founded in 1866.  For the complete Grand Rapids Press story, go here.

 

 

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The University of Arizona is the latest campus to go through a norovirus outbreak.  Last Saturday, Melissa Vito, vice president for student affairs and Dr. Harry M. McDermott, executive director for campus health & wellness, sent an email to everyone on campus:

"We have received reports from University Medical Center that they have seen 15-20 University of Arizona students in their emergency room since last night suffering from symptoms that are consistent with a highly contagious gastrointestinal virus. Symptoms are similar to those of a norovirus, which medical officials suspect, but are awaiting confirmation based on lab results. The symptoms include nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps and diarrhea.

"Noroviruses are not typically life threatening, but they are extremely uncomfortable for those experiencing them. The close quarters found in college fraternities, sororities and residence halls are ideal for quickly spreading the highly contagious viruses.

UA health officials are working with the Pima County Health Department to evaluate and monitor the situation.

Noroviruses are very contagious and can be spread easily from person to person. People infected with a norovirus are contagious from the moment they begin feeling ill until at least three days after recovery. Both stool and vomit are infectious, including being in the vicinity of a person who is vomiting..."

The complete advisory can be found here.

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An elementary school in Colonial Heights, VA is open again after an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness forced officials to shut it down.

About 150 students at Tussing Elementary School reported norovirus symptoms of stomach pains, nausea and vomiting last week.

Tussing Elementary has a student population of more than 600. The cause of the outbreak and how it was spread is unknown.

Principal David K. Staples wrote a letter to parents saying the closure "gives us an opportunity to thoroughly clean all surfaces in the school and apply all of our internal procedures to assure the cleanliness of the school."

Staples also said food-safety procedures and cafeteria protocols are also being reviewed.

For more go here.

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The score for this weekend is Georgetown 192 to USC 130.  Too bad is wasn't one hell of a football game.  It was instead the count from the norovirus outbreaks being experienced on the two well known campuses on opposite sides of the country.

Georgetown officials put this statement out:

As of 4:00 p.m. Friday a total of 192 patients have sought medical treatment for symptoms related to norovirus. While the vast majority of these individuals remain undergraduate students, for the first time today we became aware of that 2 employees who had been helping respond to students became ill.

At USC, the word was:

University spokesman James Grant says a preliminary investigation found a norovirus to be the cause of campus illness, that led to 1 to 2 days of vomiting, stomach cramps and diarrhea. Grant says the initial findings won't be confirmed until test results are returned from the county health department in two to three weeks.

The school has ordered 3,000 bottles of hand sanitizer and 2,000 containers of sanitizing wipes to distribute on Monday, when classes will resume as regularly scheduled.

For an entertaining look at what students are putting up with at Georgetown, go here.

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Houston's KHOU-TV is reporting:

Inmates at the Wynne Unit in Huntsville aren't getting any visitors this weekend. The state health department found evidence of a norovirus at the facility.

The unit's now under a medical quarantine after 440 prisoners and 28 staff members have become sick.

Located at FM 2821 and Highway 75 North in Walker County, Texas,  the Wynne Unit was opened in 1883.  It has capacity for 2,300 prisoners and employs 755, including 424 guards.

The prison also operates 1,412 acres of farmland located in both Byrd and Holliday counties. Its agricultural operations include:  Edible and Field Crops, Egg Laying Operation, Farm Shop, Peach Orchards, Regional Pest Control, Security Horses/Dogs, Swine Finishing Operation, Veterinary Clinic, and assists Goree Unit in Horse Breeding Program.

 

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There's nothing like a good Norovirus outbreak to ruin a summer vacation.   That's what they are finding out this weekend at the Windmill Run Marina on Oklahoma's popular Grand Lake.

News OK tonight has this report:

The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality issued an emergency order Friday for a condo complex on Grand Lake to shut down its water system because several dozen people have become sick since June.

At least 62 people have had flu-like symptoms associated with a Norovirus, which the DEQ says was caused because sewage contaminated a drinking water well at the Windmill Run Marina, on the east side of the lake.

The emergency shutdown follows a July 8 order that all water from the Windmill Run condos be boiled before drinking because the state found E. coli in the drinking water.

The DEQ is continuing its investigation.  Go here for more.

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Long Island's newspaper, Newsday, this weekend is covering a norovirus outbreak in Dutchess County, New York.

More than 200 people are sick from the gastrointestinal virus.

The newspaper reported that Dutchess County Health Commissioner Dr. Michael Caldwell says his agency is working with the state Health Department to identify the cause of the 24-hour stomach illness.

The first illnesses were reported earlier this week. Health officials are investigating to find the source of the virus.

Noroviruses cause diarrhea and vomiting. Most people recover after a day or two. People get sick by eating food, touching surfaces or contacting people contaminated with the virus.

People in areas of Norovirus outbreaks are told to wash their hands frequently especially before handling food.

Go here, to find Newsday.

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During the winter, the YMCA of the Rockies is one of the finest cross-country skiing areas in the West.  During the summer, its facilities serve hundreds if not thousands of young people.   Norovirus attacked the camp three years ago during the 2005 season.   Now, its back with 72 campers and 15 counselors and guides now sick.  

7News, the ABC affiliate in Denver, explained how it happened:

The case began with two girls who came to camp in recent days who reported feeling a little sick. Counselors thought the girls had car sickness but then their whole cabin became ill, with symptoms including vomiting, cramping, diarrhea and a low-grade fever.

There were 60 cases reported Wednesday morning but a few hours later, the outbreak spread to 72 kids, camp officials said.

The Colorado Department of Health has been contacted and is working with camp to identify the source of the outbreak.

For more from 7News, go here.

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Little green men running around at a Science-Fiction 
convention would not get that much notice, but when 
everybody turns green... Well, that's a problem.

Dozens of people attending the SciFi gathering in 
Madison, Wisconsin did turn a little green and health 
officials are not yet sure why.

About 50 people became ill and the cause remains a bit 
of a mystery, but it sure does sound like norovirus.
 
However, officials with Dane County and the Madison Public Health Department 
investigators say the ailment had symptoms similar to those of "stomach flu."

They think some attendees might have been exposed to the illness before the 
convention since they developed symptoms so soon after arriving. The sick ones
may have then infected others through personal contact and shared access to food.
The convention was at Madison's Concourse Hotel. The hotel has been thoroughly 
scrubbed since the illnesses were reported.

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Four thousand diarrhea cases in the central Anatolian city of Aksaray in Turkey will probably get the award for this season's largest outbreak of Norovirus. 

"A rash of diarrhea cases first appeared in the province on May 13, and health experts determined that the outbreak stemmed from contaminated water," Today's Zaman, a Turkish news publication, reports.

It went on to say:

Turan Buzgan, a deputy undersecretary at the Health Ministry, said the ministry was investigating whether there was norovirus in the samples taken from the city's water system.

Noroviruses are transmitted by fecally contaminated food or water and by person-to-person contact and causes approximately 90 percent of epidemic non-bacterial outbreaks of gastroenteritis around the world. "The results of our studies rely on scientific data. They are based on epidemiological studies and laboratory analysis. Since what the Health Ministry says is based on scientific evidence, it is not right to say the opposite," said Buzgan.

He also stated that the ministry had been closely monitoring the diarrhea cases in the city since they broke out and sent an expert health team to the region.

Look here for the rest of Today's Zaman story.

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You have to love Norovirus.   It goes from Five Star Hotels to fancy venues like San Francisco's Moscone Center before it lands on the simple Salem Mission, Oregon's Capital City's 34-bed homeless center on Mission Street.

Residents and staff at Salem Mission caught the highly contagious virus last week, Oregon health officials say.  About 20 people were sick last Thursday and Friday with both vomiting and diarrhea.

The Mission is being cleaned by sanitizing surfaces with bleach and water; and replacing all linens and bedding.   Anyone coming or going at the Mission will now be required to use hand sanitizers.

No common food source for the outbreak  is known.    There's a Salem News Online story here.

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Sun Microsystems urged people to "Catch the Buzz" at JavaOne.  By the time "Sun Fellow" James Gosling was wrapping up the annual open source event at San Francisco's famed Moscone Center, more than 70 people who attended JavaOne were sick with norovirus.

It was probably the only time when San Francisco is glad to see a Silicon Valley company stop spending its money and go home.    With another group moving into Moscone this week,  San Francisco is left dealing the the nasty aftermath of a norovirus outbreak.  Reports the San Francisco Chronicle:

The source of the virus has not yet been identified, but generally the norovirus is passed when an infected person spreads microbes either by preparing food or sharing plates or utensils, said Jim Soos, assistant director of policy and planning at the San Francisco Department of Public Health.

Public health officials are working with convention center organizers to make cleaning recommendations and to confirm the cause of the illness, according to a bulletin issued by the health department.

The Moscone Center consists of more than 2 million square feet of building area. On Friday it hosted the last day of the JavaOne Conference, and an event next week is going ahead as scheduled, Perry said.

The SF Chronicle story can be located here.

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As we said in our last post, we always do appreciate local media doing follow-up stories, especially when it involves an outbreak. The Akron Beacon Journal is staying on the norovirus outbreak at the Kent, Ohio Chipotle Mexican Grill. More than 400 Chipotle customers got sick. The Ohio newspaper spoke to both City Health Commissioner John Ferlito and the spokesman for the Ohio Department of Health. 'It was definitely a norovirus outbreak,'' Ferlito said Monday. ''It looks like people ingested it through the food. How it got into the food, I can't ascertain at this moment.'' Results of the food tests -- made available Monday by the state health department -- came up negative for fecal coliform, a bacteria often found in human waste, Ferlito said. Ohio Department of Health spokesman Kristopher Weiss said there is no specific test for norovirus in food. But, he said, ''if we were to find fecal coliforms, it would be indicative of fecal contamination, which can lead to norovirus and other illnesses.'' Test also were negative for four other types of bacteria linked to gastrointestinal illnesses: salmonella, staphyloenterotoxin, shigella and E.coli. Ferlito said it remains unclear whether the food was contaminated in Kent or before it got to the restaurant

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Something you do not see often enough these days is good follow up stories from television news operations.  Cleveland's CBS affiliate, 19 ActionNews, is an exception, however, as a week later is it doing a good follow up on what happened with the norovirus outbreak at the Kent, Ohio Chipolte Mexican Grill.   WOIO reports:

State health officials at the Ohio Department of Health laboratory confirmed that the food borne illness associated with Chipotle in Kent, Ohio was Norovirus Genotype G2. 

It is evident that the food consumed from the Kent Chipotle between Tuesday April 14 and Friday April 18th was contaminated with norovirus. 

Stool samples collected from people who had eaten chipotle food between 4/14 and 4/18 tested positive for Norovirus Genotype G2. 

More  than 400 customers of the Chipotle Mexican Grill reported having symptoms of Norovirus.  Secondary transmission to people who have come into contact  with the Chipotle customers now concerns the health department, according to 19 ActionNews.

For the complete 19 ActionNews story go here.

 

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"Chipotle Mexican Grill is the Bono of the fast-food business."   So says the current issue of the magazine Fast Company.   Point of the story is how everybody loves it.

Well, not everybody likes Bono and Chipotle just made a few hundred people sick with norovirus.  Or at least that's what Ohio's Newsnet 5 is reporting.   The TV news service reports:

 City, county and state health officials said they suspect the Norwalk virus is to blame for making hundreds of people sick after they ate at a Chipotle restaurant in Kent.

According to Kent health officials, 432 people have reported norovirus symptoms as of Monday afternoon.

Officials said no cases have occurred since the restaurant reopened on Saturday. It had closed on Friday after people were reporting symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea after eating there.

The restaurant on Route 59 was cleaned and sanitized and new employees were brought in from other restaurants to work there.

The Newsnet 5 report can be found here.

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9News, Denver's NBC affiliate, is reporting tonight on a norovirus outbreak.   Sick are 63 students at the University of Denver.  9News reports that:

Denver Health Department officials say the students were afflicted with the Norovirus, a group of viruses that cause the stomach flu and can be spread by direct contact with contaminated surfaces, people, food or other objects. They say coughing and sneezing do not spread the virus.

According to health experts, the Norovirus is not life-threatening and should pass within 12 to 36 hours, on average.

Health officials say it is safe for students, faculty and staff to live, work and eat at DU and in all of the DU residence hall dining areas.

See the 9News story here.

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Outbreaks of norovirus continue around the country.   This latest report comes from Lake County, Montana.   Montana's News Stations are reporting: 

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A University of Connecticut sorority picked the wrong place to hold its banquet.  About 30 sorority women were treated by UConn's infirmary after dining at the nearby Adams Mill Restaurant.  Norovirus is suspected.

Grace E. Merritt, writing in the Hartford Courant, reports:

UConn sent out a campuswide e-mail Thursday detailing the outbreak and urging precautions to prevent the virus from spreading on campus.

Norovirus can be food-borne, can spread from person to person or can be contracted from the contaminated surfaces of doorknobs and handles, said Manchester Health Department Director Maryann Cherniak Lexius.

At the health department's suggestion, The Adams Mill, a restaurant and banquet center on Adams Street, voluntarily closed for the day Wednesday for a top-to-bottom cleaning, she said.

About 150 people attended the dinner  hosted by the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. For Merritt's entire story, go here.

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The New York Department of Health has made it official.  Norovirus made nearly 400 guests sick at the Six Flags Great Escape Lodge & Indoor Waterpark in Queensbury, New York.

Capital News 9 reports:

The department has concluded that the illness was in fact a norovirus.

The department also said that less than ten new cases have been reported in the past four days, and the spread of the illness is declining.

The report did not determine the origin of the virus, but both drinking water and water in the park has been tested. Both came back negative for bacteria

Go here for more.

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When we first read about people getting sick at the Great Escape Lodge & Indoor Water Park, we were drawn to the comments that followed the story.   There we learned that people with getting sick within four hours of checking-in.   One couple told of the fact that the facility had so many people vomiting, that it was out of towels!

The mystery illness is looking more and more like norovirus.  New York officials have linked the Great Escape to the illnesses of nearly 200 people and more than 300 have called the department's hotline to report symptoms of diarrhea and vomiting after visiting the resort, or to get information.

The Glen Falls Post Star Friday (3/21/08) reported that:

The Department of Health suspects a norovirus is to blame for the sickness, but officials are still awaiting laboratory test results to confirm that.

The same story adds lot's detail into the Great Escape horror story.  It can be found here.

 

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We may have found the one place in North America that's suffered from more norovirus outbreaks this winter than anywhere else.   The prize, we think,  goes to Peterborough, Ontario.

The Peterborough Examiner reports the Canadian city/county has experienced eight norovirus outbreaks in the past 14 months.   Five were at long-term care facilities, two in the schools, and one in a restaurant.  A total of 398 people became ill, but only one required hosptialization.

For  more details go here.

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Throw a dart at a map of the United States and you've got a good chance of hitting someplace where a lot of people are suffering from norovirus.   The latest to fall to the virus is the 65-bed inpatient psychiatric unit at Omaha's Immanuel Medical Center.

The Center won't be letting anyone else into the psych unit until health workers can control a contagious gastrointestinal virus that sickened people there.   Alegent Health, which operates Immanuel, is trying to figure out how the virus got into the Center.  They acknowledge closing the psych unit to outsiders will make it difficult for some in the community get the the psychiatric treatment they need.

Josh Funk, writing for the Beatrice Daily Sun, reports that:

Nine people are sick, including one adolescent and one nurse. There were 44 patients total in the unit on Tuesday, said hospital spokeswoman Kelly Grinnell.

Alegent's medical director of infection control, Richard Starlin, said the contagion causes uncontrollable vomiting, severe diarrhea, headaches and fever.

Alegent has not identified the virus, but Starlin said doctors are highly suspicious it is a norovirus.

Funk also recapped some of the recent noriovirus action around the country, including the closure of two hospitals in Greensboro, N.C. last week, and the return of a cruise ship to San Diego with 104 virus-struck passengers on board.

Funk's story can be found here.

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We've been tracking norovirus outbreaks around the country all winter.  It's never good news, but when it hits an important medical center; it's especially  bad.  Tonight comes this news from the Denver Post:

One of the nation's top rehabilitation hospitals has a stomach bug, officials at Craig Hospital in Englewood said tonight.

Since last week, 15 staff members and five patients have contracted a norovirus, a stomach flu, at the 93-bed not-for-profit hospital

The virus has been isolated to one of the hospital's four in-patient units. The hospital is not accepting admissions to that unit until the outbreak has subsided, according to a statement from the hospital.

"There is no way to know the origin of the virus; (it) may have been brought in by outpatients, families, visitors or staff," Pat Goley, the hospital's infection control specialist, stated.

The main method of preventing the highly contagious virus is frequent handwashing, she said.

"We have had strict and aggressive handwashing protocols for years at Craig, but sometimes these infections can occur," Goley stated.

Craig Hospital has been ranked among the top ten rehab hospitals in the nation for the past ten  years by US News & World Report.   The DP's story can be found here.

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The Washington State towns of Wenatchee and East Wenatchee are the latest places to be experiencing norovirus outbreaks.

The Wenatchee World, the local newspaper, reports that 10 to 22 percent of the students at the Waterville schools and Orchard Middle School have called in sick during the past month.

According to the Wenatchee World:

Most students suffered the usual flu symptoms — sore throat, coughing or congestion — but the second most common complaint was gastrointestinal, said health district spokeswoman Mary Small.

Small said the area's emergency rooms and clinics have also experienced a risk in walk-ins with stomach problems.   Norovirus and Type A flu have been diagnosed.

The World's story can be found here.

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We've all been there.  You have to make an appearance at the local Chamber of Commerce's annual dinner.  It usually means you have to make it through an endless series of self-serving speeches, but at least you can go home when it all over.

Those atttending the Jan. 24th Redwood City-San Mateo County Chamber of Commerce annual dinner were not so lucky.  Many did not get to go home, they instead went to the hospital, suffering from norovirus.   The pretigious Sofitel Hotel, site of the dinner, made 62 of more than 200 attending the event sick.

San Meteo health officials said those who got sick were more likely  to have eaten a chicken and salmon dish than the vegetarian option.  They also said some of the hotel's health code violations may have contributed to the outbreak.

Among those violations were not keeping food warm enough and not using sanitary cloth to clean with.

The San Meteo County Times reported the outbreak struck one of its leading elected officiaisl.

Among the attendees who got sick were Supervisor Mark Church, aides confirmed.

One of his items on the Board of Supervisors agenda that would have expanded a green business program had to be postponed because Church wasn't sure he would be well enough to make the meeting. (He did attend.)

The hotel's general manager, Didier de La Fierre, a member of the chamber, was also sickened, Maragakis said.

Peterson said norovirus outbreaks at hotels are uncommon, but not unheard of. He remembered a wedding banquet at a hotel a few years ago that had a similar problem.

"I'm happy to say this is not a regular occurrence," he said.

The Times story can be found here.

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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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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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Santa Cruz Sentinel reported that more than 80 people who ate at a Santa Cruz County hotel restaurant reported getting sick in the past week and health officials blame it on something simple: failure to wash hands. The Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency issued an advisory Friday, saying it was investigating how more than 1,000 people were exposed to the gastrointestinal virus during the past seven days.  Public health staff suspect the cause of the outbreak is a "highly contagious virus" that can be passed human to human. Symptoms include vomiting, nausea and diarrhea. "One person carrying it is the typical mode of transmission," Kennedy said. "It's fecal-oral contact. It's not washing hands - especially people who are preparing and handling foods."

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Sandwiches supplied to two schools in New Jersey were to blame for the norovirus outbreak last week.  Full Story from the Jersey Evening Post

Haute Vallée head teacher Bob Fairhurst said that the school had taken advice from health experts and was insisting that staff did not come back until at least 48 hours after their symptoms stopped to prevent the illness from spreading.

He added that sensitive areas of the school had been disinfected over the weekend as part of a 'deep clean' of the premises.

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Another cruise ship has been struck by a norovirus outbreak that has sickened about 250 guests and staff so far. Full Story

Indeed, Celebrity spokesman Michael Sheehan has confirmed the outbreak, albeit with slightly lower numbers. From Celebrity's report: "Over the course of the sailing, 176 of the ship's 2,242 guests [8 percent] and 22 of its 957 crew members [2 percent] experienced the illness, thought to be a Norovirus brought onboard by a guest previously exposed to it. Those affected by the short-lived illness responded well to over-the-counter medication administered onboard the ship."

Celebrity has reported the outbreak to the United States' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as is required when at least three percent of passengers are stricken.

In an effort to halt the spread of gastrointestinal illness onboard, not to mention in ports of call, Celebrity Cruises has upgraded its cleaning protocol in conjunction with CDC guidelines. This includes the use of far more potent antiseptic supplies, and the addition of two doctors and two nurses onboard.

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The Oregon State Hospital has been battling the norovirus since July 29 but believe the worst of it is over. Full Story

SALEM -- The number of Oregon State Hospital patients and staff sick with a gastrointestinal illness totaled 170 Tuesday. But officials said they think they are beginning to win the battle against the highly contagious norovirus.

"It definitely looks as though the worst part is over," said Richard O'Brien, nurse epidemiologist for the state hospital in Salem.

Most norovirus sufferers experience vomiting or diarrhea but recover in a day or two. Because hand-washing is the best prevention against contracting the virus and because the 124-year-old hospital is short on sinks, officials have installed portable hand-washing stations in the wards.

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Some of my blog readers might know that I am off to Australia at the end of the week.  In fact, I am off to Queensland which seems to be having a bit of a norovirus problem:

Norovirus situation 'slowly improving' at Qld hospital

People suffering vomiting and diarrhea are again being urged not to visit Queensland's biggest hospital as it struggles to cope with an outbreak of norovirus.

The Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital canceled all non-urgent surgery again today as dozens of doctors and nurses recover from the illness.  Doctor Judy Graves says 85 patients have also been struck down, but the situation is slowly improving.

"If people do have symptoms of diarrhea and vomiting, I would also urge them not to visit the hospital as visitors, if they have those symptoms or indeed for 48 hours after the cessation of symptoms," she said.  "If patients need to come as patients and they have those symptoms or [within the] 48 hours, we would appreciate it if they could notify the staff on their arrival."

Hopefully, I will not need medical services and the patients will not need legal ones.  "G'day, mate!"  I bet the "shrimp on the barbie" is well cooked.

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Since the pool was closed on July 11, to date there are 123 sick children and 8 people with secondary illnesses who were never even in the water. Full Story

The Chester County Health Department told Action News it has conducted interviews with more than 100 people, and sent more than 100 samples from patients, plus pool water to the state health labs.

In addition to the children sickened, at least 14 of the 38 workers at the pool have experienced symptoms.

Early tests revealed norovirus in the water, and some stool samples from people who had been in the water.

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The Chester County Health Department closed the pool on July 6 and is still investigating the cause of the norovirus outbreak. Full Story

As of July 16, 14 children and 14 adults had been affected, Walls said, adding that she expected that number to grow since the organisms are spread by hand contact.

"Now some of the parents are sick," she said.

Walls said initial tests confirmed three culprits: giardiasis, cryptosporidiosis and norovirus, all of which cause gastrointestinal illness.

One reported case came from Delaware County, Walls said, but the girl had been taking swimming lessons at West Chester University.

Walls said county officials learned through a conference call with the Centers for Disease Control that a "multi-organism event" is not an uncommon problem in a pool or lake, even though county officials had not experienced it.

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Camp Ockanickon was shut down after 55 to 60 people came down with symptoms of norovirus.    Full Story from NBC 10

PIPERSVILLE, Pa. -- A Boy Scout camp in Pipersville sent all its campers home early Thursday after a possible norovirus outbreak, officials said. The camp was shut down for disinfection and will not receive new campers until Sunday, at the earliest.

Several campers were stricken last week. For that reason, the camp performed a major sanitizing, but it came back, hitting harder this time. Therefore, the camp decided not to take any chances and sent all 500 campers home.

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A Norovirus outbreak has sickened approximately 123 people who ate at a Longview restaurant last week, health officials said Friday.  All of the people who became ill ate at Parker's Restaurant in Longview, said Don Strick, Cowlitz County Health spokesman.  The outbreak appears to be winding down, however, health officials expect reports of more cases.  People who became ill should stay home for three days following virus symptoms and are advised to drink plenty of liquids.

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The Log Den closed Sunday after more than 100 people became ill after eating there.  Full Story

EGG HARBOR — The Log Den is expected to reopen today after more than 100 people reported becoming ill after dining there during the last week of May, according to the Door County Public Health Department.

People complained of diarrhea and vomiting. State and county public health departments suspect they're dealing with rotavirus gastroenteritis, but they won't know for certain until the results from stool samples return from the state lab sometime next week.

"We want everyone to know we are very concerned for all our friends' and neighbors' health, as well as our staff and families," said Wayne Lautenbach Sr., an owner of the Log Den. "We're working with the Health Department to try and get this resolved and figured out and are committed to doing just that."

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More than 60 people who ate at Parker's Restaurant in Longview, Washington last week reported symptoms of nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.  The Cowlitz County Health Department is investigating the outbreak.  Full Story

Owner Tony Parker said he was told that symptoms were possibly caused by the Norwalk Virus, but that has not yet been confirmed by the health department. CCHD officials are waiting for lab reports to determine the cause of the illness.

"We're working diligently with the health department," Parker said Thursday. "A germ got in our building. It's absolutely not in our food. It is not a problem with our employees. If whoever was sick had walked into Fred Meyer or went to a baseball game, people there would have gotten sick, too. There is nothing those businesses could do, and there was nothing I could have done to prevent this."

Parker said thousands of people had eaten in the restaurant and only a few had felt ill. He said that he has voluntarily closed his restaurant for a few days. He said he asked health department officials to spend time with him at the restaurant to make sure he was doing nothing wrong.

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BY ELIZABETH SIMPSON
THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
FULL STORY
VIRGINIA BEACH - The number of norovirus cases reported in an outbreak of the stomach virus at Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital increased from 23 to 32 during the weekend, the hospital said Monday.

Five of the additional nine cases, however, were ones that had occurred last week but weren't reported until news about the outbreak surfaced.

Sentara Healthcare said the total number of patients who have been sickened now stands at eight, while the number of staff made ill is 21. In addition, two visitors and one doctor reported having the illness last week.

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Health officials believe that a nursing home in Washington, North Carolina has been struck by a Norovirus outbreak. The Norovirus is highly contagious and usually persists for 24 to 60 hours.  Full Story from the Washington Daily Press

About 15 to 20 residents at Ridgewood Manor have experienced the symptoms over the course of about a week, according to different estimates from the nursing home and the Beaufort County Health Department.

The virus, which includes symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea, has also affected “seven or eight” nursing home employees, according to Health Director Roxanne Holloman. The bug seems to last about 24 hours in each patient it affects, said Ridgewood administrator Lisa Hartley.

The illness is believed to be caused by some form of the Norovirus, which is a generic term given to viruses that affect gastrointestinal functions. The virus surfaced at Ridgewood last week, Hartley said. The health department was called in Friday to assess the situation.

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The Norovirus has spread through Sentara hospital in Virginia Beach, sickening 23 people.  Full Story

VIRGINIA BEACH -- More than 20 people have contracted the Norovirus while at Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital.

The Virginia Department of Health has confirmed 23 cases and preventative measures are in place to keep the virus from spreading, WAVY-TV 10 reported.

"We're doing everything we can to reduce the chance of the virus being in other places in the hospital," said hospital Administrator Dr. Ray Troiano.

 

 

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Forest Hills Central High School in Michigan has been reopened after it was closed last week due to a possible norovirus outbreak.  Full story

Cleaning crews spent all night scrubbing the walls and surfaces of the building. Officials say between 70-80 students all showed the same symptoms this week - stomach cramps, diarrhea and vomiting. The Health Department said the symptoms are similar to a norovirus, but a spokeswoman said they're not ready to say that's what it is until they finish the investigation.

They're tracking back what the students ate in the previous 72 hours. Talks around the school has been about breadsticks in the cafeteria are to blame, but the Health Department said they've found no evidence of that. Symptoms, they added, usually take 24 hours to develop.

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A Norovirus outbreak has struck Elizabeth Blackwell Elementary in Sammamish, Washington, sickening more than 120 students.  Full story from The Seattle Times

Nearly a quarter of Elizabeth Blackwell Elementary School students in Sammamish were home sick on Tuesday, and county health officials suspect it could be a norovirus outbreak.

More than 120 of the school's 560 students were out sick, and 15 more were sent home during the day, said Kathryn Reith, spokeswoman for Lake Washington School District. Nine staff members were out sick Monday and eight had stayed home sick Tuesday. The district heard that some parents kept their children home as a precaution, Reith said.

No other schools in King County reported high numbers of ill students this week, but it's not uncommon to see waves of these kinds of illness move through schools and other institutions, said James Apa, spokesman for Public Health -- Seattle & King County.

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Michigan health agencies are emphasizing safe food handling practices after hundreds of Lansing-area patrons were sickened by the norovirus in 2006 from outbreaks at Carrabba's Italian Grill, Bravo Cucina Italiana's and Applebee's.  Full Story from Tanya Bigham

Lansing - An outbreak involves two or more unassociated individuals who became sick after dining at the same facility, said Sandy Enness, director of communications for Michigan State University’s National Food Safety and Toxicology Center.

The law firm of Marler Clark based in Seattle, is representing customers in their lawsuits against the three Lansing-area restaurants.

According to Marler Clark, Carrabba’s Italian Grill was the first local restaurant to have a norovirus outbreak in January 2006, with more than 400 consumers becoming ill. Bravo Cucina Italiana’s outbreak occurred in May and affected up to 360 people. In December, 32 people were sickened after eating at Applebee’s.

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News Channel 3 has reported that Croyden Avenue School will be closed Thursday and Friday due to a Norovirus outbreak.  Full Story

Michigan - The school is being cleaned because of one confirmed case of the norovirus. Several other students are also sick.

The school is taking all necessary precautions to make sure no more students get sick by dis-infecting the classrooms.

Since the school serves special needs students with specific medical needs, they are not taking any risk when it comes to their health.

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The Green Leafe Restaurant is being investigated for a norovirus outbreak after two bands, My Chemical Romance and The Muse, became ill and had to cancel their show on April 29 at Penn State University.  Full story from Seth Freedland of the Daily Press.

Williamsburg - Peninsula Health District officials are investigating whether food poisoning or something else is responsible for making two rock bands and local crew members sick after appearing at the College of William and Mary Saturday night.

Officials said they are still days away from having enough information to know what happened, but they are investigating whether the illness may have come from a catered meal by Williamsburg restaurant, the Green Leafe.

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A Norovirus outbreak affected over 100 students at Augusta Middle School in Kansas. Health officials are still investigating the source of the outbreak.  Full story

Findings by the Butler County Health Department and the Kansas Department of Health & Environment (KDHE) led to the AMS norovirus outbreak conclusion.

Now, health officials are trying to isolate the cause as the investigation continues.

Middle school students and then some adults in the community may have experienced symptoms of the illness.

Most sufferers have recovered and student absence numbers at the middle school have returned to normal parameters for this time of year.

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One hundred people on a Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. cruise ship contracted a norovirus that causes gastrointestinal illness, the Miami company said.  The Zenith left the Port of Tampa in Florida April 2 and returned April 13 as scheduled, The Tampa Tribune reported. Royal Caribbean said 89 of the people who got sick on the ship were guests, and the others were

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Norovirus has hit two cruise ships, one in Tampa and one in Portland, in the past week:

Fox 13, April 13, 2007 - Full Story

TAMPA - Nearly 100 sick cruise ship passengers are back home today.

The Celebrity Cruise Lines ship Zenith docked at Channelside this morning. It set sail back on April 2 but over the course of the 11-day cruise, 86 passengers and 11 crewmembers came down with the norovirus.

Passengers on board say they weren't kept in the loop about what was going on. Many didn't realize anything was wrong until they saw crew members with masks on.

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Another Norovirus outbreak has hit the a cruise ship named the Empress of the North, sickening both passengers and crew members.  Full story

Posted by The Oregonian April 11, 2007

Noroviruses appear to be responsible for outbreaks that sickened at least 30 passengers and seven crew members on two March cruise sailings from Portland, a federal official said Wednesday.

Capt. Jaret Ames, acting chief of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Vessel Sanitation Program, said stool samples from three passengers had tested positive for norovirus. The disease, which spreads rapidly in the close quarters of cruise ships, causes flu-like symptoms including vomiting and diarrhea.

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Click here for the full story from kptv.com news.

Sheridan, Oregon - A possible norovirus outbreak is making several people sick in Sheridan.

Since Friday, the Deer Meadow Assisted Living Center has reported 17 cases of a gastrointestinal illness among its staff and residents.

The Yamhill County Health Department is investigating and hopes to have test results by Friday.

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The Barton Creek Resort & Club in Austin, Texas, had a possible norovirus outbreak over the weekend. The health department began their investiagtion after 200 guests complained of gastrointestinal illnesses. Full story

Local and state health authorities are, according to this story, investigating a suspected outbreak of foodborne illness at the Barton Creek Resort & Club over the weekend.
Shannon Jones III, assistant director of public health at the Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department, was cited as saying the investigation began after a complaint was received Monday afternoon, and results of lab tests were still pending late Tuesday, adding, "Basically, the department is conducting an investigation of a gastrointestinal illness associated with about 200 guests at an event" between March 28 and Saturday. "That doesn't mean 200 had this intestinal outbreak."
Health officials wouldn't identify the location of the outbreak, but Barton Creek Resort & Club confirmed that it occurred there.

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Nino's on Lake Tiogue, Rhode Island, has been cleared to re-open after a Norovirus outbreak sickened several customers in March.  Full Story

"The Office of Food Protection did go in and do a final inspection yesterday (Monday) morning before they are given the OK to open," said Andrea Bagnall Degos, spokesperson for the Rhode Island Department of Health.

Nino's closed voluntarily last week to undergo a "devirus" cleaning process as a precaution when the Rhode Island Health Department received reports of several people complaining of norovirus symptoms after attending parties at Nino's on March 25.

"Though the health department was unable to determine the actual origin of the illnesses, we conducted a full and complete sanitization of the facility, beyond what was required," Charles Cunha, owner of Nino's, said in a statement.

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Health officials are investigating Brighton Gardens, an assisted and independent living facility for seniors, questioning management's response time during the norovirus outbreak that began in late February. Full Story

Arlington, VA - An assisted living facility in Arlington County is under investigation by state and county health officials after a highly contagious norovirus outbreak that sickened 61 percent of the home's 140 residents last month before it was brought under control.
Officials with the Virginia Department of Social Services said yesterday that they are looking into an outbreak that apparently began in late February at Brighton Gardens of Arlington, a facility for assisted and independent living managed by Sunrise Senior Living, and whether management responded to the virus in a timely manner.

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Norovirus may be to blame for dozens of illnesses as Sylvan Elementary in Alamance County.  Full Story

Burlington, NC -- Students and staff at a local elementary school were out sick on Wednesday, and health officials say a serious stomach virus may be the reason.

According to the Alamance County health department a "large number" of adults and children were absent from Sylvan Elementary school complaining of nausea, vomiting and fever.

The symptoms match those of the virus known as "norovirus" that has been affecting a large number of people in North Carolina over the last few months.

The virus's symptoms come on suddenly and generally last two to three days.

Health officials say anyone with illness who is unable to keep down food and liquids or who is having bloody diarrhea should see their doctor. And if parents have questions about their child's health, they should contact their child's doctor.

The best way to combat the virus is proper hand washing and keeping sick students at home.

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There has been an outbreak of Norovirus, also known as Norwalk virus, at two hospitals in the Greensboro area.  New patients will not be admitted and visitors are being asked to stay away.  Children 12 years and younger will not be allowed inside. Full Story from Steve Hartsoe at WRAL.com

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Two hospitals are asking people to stay away until they can control an outbreak of the highly contagious Norwalk stomach virus that has sickened patients and staff members.

Moses Cone Health System confirmed an outbreak of the virus at Moses Cone Hospital in Greensboro, and believe the virus has also hit Wesley Long Hospital, two of the system's three general service hospitals. The third hospital, in Reidsville, appeared to be unaffected.

Firm numbers of patients affected weren't available, officials said.

In the lobby at Moses Cone, a sign Friday warned people about the virus and also urged them to wash their hands frequently. There was a hand sanitizer dispenser mounted on the wall by the sign.

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The Norovirus has hit 3 nursing homes in Santa Rosa and Sonoma Valley. Full story from Robert Digitale at The Press Democrat

The three senior care facilities reported more than 50 new cases of norovirus, said Dr. Leigh Hall, Sonoma County's deputy public health officer.

Two of the three facilities are located in the Sonoma Valley, and the third is in Santa Rosa.

The county refuses to identify the facilities until an outbreak is declared over, saying they fear operators will not report norovirus cases otherwise.

The county continues to monitor two facilities in Rohnert Park and Petaluma that previously reported norovirus cases. The two facilities reported three new cases over the weekend but none on Monday.

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Tampa Bay Channel 10 News reports a Norovirus case in Brooksville, Florida. Full Story

The county Health Department says at least one person attending a county meeting last week has tested positive for Norovirus. Results from other persons who took ill are expected later this week.

At least 35 people reported mild to severe diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and other gastrointestinal symptoms within 30 hours after eating food at the meeting, the health department said.

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Courtney Paquette for the Eagle-Tribune writes that the Norovirus has spread through schools and nursing homes in New Hampshire. Full story

A record outbreak of norovirus that has sickened thousands of New Hampshire residents has health officials worried that a strain they haven't seen before may be to blame.

There have been 44 outbreaks of the virus since December, far more than the previous record of 33 outbreaks in 2003. An outbreak occurs when a whole community - a school, nursing home, office or housing complex - is struck with an illness. More people might be contracting the virus because it's a strain their immune systems aren't used to, officials said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta is studying the strain and is supposed to issue research findings in the next couple of weeks, Department of Health and Human Services spokesman Greg Moore said.

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Tim Stieghorst has reported that the Queen Elizabeth 2 is the first cruise ship to be struck by a norovirus outbreak in 2007. Full story

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL — The storied Queen Elizabeth 2 has a new distinction its owners would prefer not to have after it become the first cruise ship in 2007 to suffer a serious outbreak of norovirus illness, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

So far 263 passengers and 27 crewmembers on the QE2 have been sickened by the increasingly common ailment that causes vomiting and diarrhea for 48 to 72 hours since the ship left Southampton, England, on Jan. 2, according to the article.

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials were to board the ship today when it docks in Acapulco, Mexico, to survey passengers and inspect cleaning procedures, the article noted.

The Cunard Line ship is on a 106-night world cruise; a company spokesman said there were has no plans to interrupt the QE2 world cruise for disinfection, although special cleaning rules have been followed since the outbreak began, the article noted.

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Commentary from Warren King of The Olympian. Full story

A significant spike in norovirus infections - what people often call the "stomach flu" - apparently has hit King County in recent weeks, including a fourfold increase in nursing-home outbreaks over this time last year.

Norovirus infections, which are not related to real influenza, always increase in winter. But the larger increase here is part of a national trend that federal health officials think may stem from a new strain of the virus that is widespread in Europe.

"It certainly seems to be a worse season than last year," said Dr. Jeff Duchin, director of communicable-disease control for Public Health - Seattle & King County.

Outbreaks of the highly contagious bug were reported in 18 long-term care facilities in King County during December, compared with four during December 2005.

State law requires that norovirus outbreaks be reported to health officials only if they occur in health-care facilities, schools or long-term-care facilities. But the increase in nursing homes is an indicator of a general increase in the county, Duchin said.

State health officials said they aren't certain if the illness has increased statewide.

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GREAT FALLS - Health officials say the "stomach flu" that has been making the rounds in Great Falls is very likely norovirus, the viral gastroenteritis that has plagued Yellowstone County.

Although Cascade County has reported just two cases of the virus within the last month, Dr. Ray Geyer said he suspects the numbers are much higher. Geyer is a Great Falls Clinic physician who specializes in infectious diseases.

When there's an outbreak of diarrhea in a nursing home, only a couple of cases are tested, he said.

"If two tests are positive, chances are, they all have it," Geyer said. "We have an outbreak at a nursing home almost every winter."

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There has been a norovirus at San Quentin State Prison which has restricted visitors until Thursday at the earliest.  Full story from KCBS

San Quentin State Prison officials are taking precautions today after a rash of possible norovirus cases broke out among inmates and employees.

 
Rudy Luna, administrative assistant to the warden, says last week prison officials last week noticed a larger-than-normal number of staff and prisoners with flu-like symptoms.

Luna says since Wednesday, prison officials have restricted the movement of sick inmates, instituted rigorous cleaning measures and placed hand sanitizers throughout the facility.

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St. John's Lutheran Ministries nursing home and Evergreen Health and Rehabilitation Center have been suffering from norovirus outbreaks, restricting visitors and activities. Full story from Diane Cochran at The Billings Gazette

Health officers are investigating outbreaks of norovirus at two Yellowstone County nursing homes, officials said Thursday.

About 100 residents and staff at the St. John's Lutheran Ministries nursing home in Billings and 20 more at Evergreen Health and Rehabilitation Center in Laurel have been sick with the virus during the last week.

"This is the time of year when we traditionally see norovirus," said Dr. Doug Moore, chief of public health for the Yellowstone City-County Health Department, which is investigating the outbreaks. "People are indoors more. There's more close contact."

Norovirus, also called Norwalk virus, is characterized by the sudden onset of vomiting and diarrhea. Symptoms typically last 24 hours and can lead to severe dehydration and, in rare cases, death.

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News article from Steven Elbow at The Capital Times

Contact: selbow@madison.com

Several employees and subcontractors at a Madison tech firm became ill this week after a weekend holiday party, and officials suspect the pesky norovirus is the culprit.

 About 100 people attended Saturday's casino night party for Smart Solutions at a local hotel. The company and Dane County health officials are still trying to determine how many employees were affected.

"Our staff is scattered around town," said Jackie Mortell, owner and president of Smart Solutions.

She said it was difficult to know how many people came down with the sickness because her 80 employees and subcontractors work on site with clients. Some of the company's major clients include Kraft, Alliant Energy, American Family and the state of Wisconsin.

Continue Reading...

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News article from Rebecca Trylch at ABC12

MID MICHIGAN (WJRT) - (12/22/06)--It's a disease that brings on many flu-like symptoms, but can be far more painful. It is the Norovirus, also known as the Norwalk Virus.

Late this week, more than 50 residents at a nursing home in Eaton County's Delta Township came down with what is believed to be the Norovirus.

In that county alone, it's the third suspected outbreak of the virus in just one month. The virus has also hit Mid Michigan in the last few months.

Earlier this month, the virus showed up in Isabella County. And back in September it was discovered in Frankenmuth, where more than 20 people came down with the virus.

Doctors say the virus is actually a stomach flu that can be extremely painful. It's also hard to diagnose. The reason? The Norovirus and the regular flu have similar symptoms.

Continue Reading...

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The Associated Press reported that the first lawsuit has been filed against the Olive Garden in Marion County after the norovirus outbreak last week.  Full story from WTHR 13

Two women are filing suit against an Indianapolis Olive Garden restaurant, claiming they were among the hundreds of people who became ill after eating there last week.

The complaint was filed in Marion County Circuit Court on behalf of two Hamilton County women, identified as Diana Redman and Courtney Redman. It asks that the case be certified as a class-action lawsuit.

According to the suit, the women became ill with nausea, vomiting and diarrhea after eating at the Olive Garden on December 13th.

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MSNBC with contributions from the Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS - A norovirus may have caused hundreds of people to  
become sick last week after eating at an Olive Garden restaurant, a  
health official said Monday.

Stool samples from three restaurant employees and one patron tested  
positive for a norovirus, which can cause symptoms of nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, said John Althardt, a spokesman for the Marion County Health Department.

About 370 people complained of being ill after eating at the restaurant, health officials said.

The restaurant, which remained closed for a fourth day on Monday, was  
cleared to reopen after being cleaned over the weekend, Althardt said.
Althardt said the Health Department was investigating how the pathogen  
might have been spread throughout the restaurant. Officials have also  
been talking to the restaurant’s management about its policies  
regarding employee hand-washing and making sure sick employees are  
excluded from working, he said.

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Jennifer Pifer of CNN has reported that four people have tested positive for norovirus after eating at an Olive Garden restaurant in Indiana.  As of December 18, three people are still hospitalized.  Full story

Marion County Health Department spokesman John Althardt told CNN in a telephone interview that tests on three employees and one customer were positive for norovirus, which typically occurs in places such as cruise ships and restaurants where people are eating food prepared by others.

Seventy-three cases were reported over the weekend, bringing the total to approximately 373, Althardt said.

The Olive Garden, which closed on Friday and scrubbed, has been given clearance to reopen.

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Due to the norovirus outbreak at two health facilities in W. Virginia, visitors have been restricted and no new patients are being admitted.  Medical professionals have enforced strict hand washing to prevent the spread of the virus.  Full story

WHEELING, W.Va. -- Just days after the norovirus struck Peterson Rehabilitation and Geriatric Center, many patients at Wheeling Hospital's continuous care have also fallen ill with similar symptoms.

 

A total of 83 cases has been reported. Fifty-five of those have been confirmed at Peterson, 10 of which are still active. Twenty-eight suspected cases have been reported at Wheeling Hospital continuous care, 17 of which are still active.

 

Test samples from the Peterson center already confirmed the presence of norovirus. Samples from Wheeling Hospital's continuous care unit were sent to the lab Wednesday, but the results are pending.

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Commentary from Tracy Davis of the News Staff Reporter

A common seasonal gastrointestinal bug is to blame for sickening at least 52 people who ate food catered by a popular downtown Ann Arbor eatery, public health officials said Tuesday.

People who ate at five separate events catered by Afternoon Delight Cafe beginning Dec. 1 reported getting sick within a day or so afterward. Health officials said test results Tuesday confirmed norovirus was the culprit. The case is still under investigation, health officials said.

Norovirus is a highly contagious and easily spread bug that can be spread via contaminated food, person to person or through people coming into contact with contaminated objects. It rarely results in complications, but causes severe vomiting and diarrhea. 

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Health officials believe the norovirus outbreak in Golden Valley, Arizona started at Black Mountain School.  215 students and eight staff members reported illnesses on November 15.  The virus continued to spread throughout the area.  Full story from the Kingman Daily Miner

GOLDEN VALLEY - Officials with the Mohave County Department of Public Health learned Wednesday that norovirus probably was responsible for an illness that struck Black Mountain School on Nov. 15.

"I talked this morning with the Arizona Department of Health Services," said Christy Bronston, director of nursing for the health department.

"They've typed (six stool) specimens we submitted with a preliminary finding of norovirus. We should have the (written) report in a couple of weeks confirming it, but they're confident the results are accurate, and the disease pattern certainly looks like norovirus."

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Commentary By Madonna McDermott
Director, Student Health Service and Wellness Center

Full Story from the Bulletin Today at the University of St. Thomas

The University of St. Thomas Student Health Service reports many students with suspected norovirus infections.

This infection is often mistakenly referred to as the “stomach flu"; it is not related to the flu (influenza), which is a respiratory illness caused by influenza virus.

Noroviruses are members of a group of viruses called caliciviruses, also known previously as “Norwalk-like viruses.” Norovirus infection causes gastroenteritis, which is an inflammation of the stomach and the small and large intestines.

 

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More than 900 people have contacted the Onondaga County Health Department since the norovirus outbreak at the Dinosaur Bar-B-Que in New York at the end of November.  Full story

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) _ A norovirus caused an outbreak of gastrointestinal illnesses among hundreds of people who ate at a popular biker bar and restaurant last month, health officials said Thursday.

The Onondaga County Health Department said lab tests confirmed a norovirus was responsible for sickening people who ate at the Dinosaur Bar-B-Que in Syracuse between Nov. 24 to Nov. 26.

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Another norovirus outbreak, also known as the cruise ship virus, hits the world's largest cruise ship.  Full Story

Norovirus sickened 338 passengers and 46 crew members from the Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas, and they were treated with over-the-counter medication, the Miami-based company said.

The ship, which had roughly 3,800 passengers and 1,300 crew members, returned Sunday as scheduled to the Port of Miami. Crew members sanitized frequently touched surfaces such as railings, door handles and elevator buttons after the short-lived outbreak began, officials said.

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A Norovirus outbreak closed an Applebee's restaurant in Michigan on Tuesday, November 28.  Full Story

Norovirus is being blamed for an outbreak that sickened 32 restaurant customers and workers at a West Saginaw Highway eatery.

The Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar re-opened Thursday with the permission of local health officials after voluntarily closing Tuesday evening.

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There has been a norovirus outbreak at Orchard Creek Health Care, an assisted living facility  in Traverse City, Michigan.  To date, 50 residents and 90 percent of the staff have contracted the virus. Full story from the Traverse City Record Eagle

Orchard Creek Health Care has been the only outbreak locally, but health officials say it's too early to tell if it will be a widespread problem.

"It is kind of explosive in that you have a whole bunch of cases all of a sudden,” said Fred Keeslar, health director of Grand Traverse County's Health Department.

Hand-washing before and after using the bathroom or eating is the best way to keep from getting sick, said Martin of Munson.

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There have been two norovirus outbreaks at Sonoma County schools in California in the past week.  Students with symptoms should stay home from school.  Channel 3 News Full Story

Students and staff members at two Sonoma County schools have been infected by a fast-spreading gastrointestinal illness.Thirty-seven students and two staff members at Yulupa and Strawberry schools have come down with the symptoms of norovirus over the past week.

The outbreak has prompted the district to cancel one teacher's parent conferences, move another out of a classroom and send letters home to parents, advising them of what precautions to take.

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A norovirus outbreak struck Carnival Liberty Cruise which departed on November 3 from Rome.  Click here for the full story from MSNBC.

A thorough scrubbing of the Carnival Liberty began Sunday as the ship docked after a virus sickened nearly 700 passengers and crew members on a trans-Atlantic cruise.

Fourteen guests and five crew remained ill and in isolation when the ship arrived at Port Everglades, according to a statement released by Carnival Cruise Lines, a brand of Carnival Corp. Some passengers were escorted off the ship in wheelchairs by crew wearing blue gloves.

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Hundreds of students have been sickened in Delaware County, Iowa.  Health officials are unable to pinpoint the source of their illness:

 

Public health says about 160 of the 500 students and a few faculty members at Lambert Elementary School in Manchester stayed home from school today.

Health officials say right now it's too early to tell what's making the people sick. Their symptoms are vomiting and diarreha.

 

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There has been a second norovirus outbreak at SCICON.  More than 300 students have been infected since the first outbreak two weeks ago:

Clemmie Gill School of Science and Conservation, or SCICON, was temporarily shut down Thursday after about 15 students became ill with symptoms similar to what more than 100 students experienced there two weeks ago.

So about 250 students at SCICON this week were sent home Thursday after some students complained of vomiting, nausea and diarrhea, said Robert Herman, public information officer for the Tulare County Office of Education, which operates the camp.

Some parents are upset. They don't think camp officials did enough to prevent an outbreak from reoccurring.

Terry Hynard of Visalia is the father of Amber, who came home sick from SCICON on Thursday.  He said he had to drive to the camp to pick up his daughter, who had a slightly upset stomach.

Amber, 11, is a sixth-grader at Sequoia Union Elementary.

He was leery about sending her, but "the school assured us that SCICON told them that everything was cleaned."

With this many children it "should have received closer attention than just a scrub down," he said.  He said he is upset that this was allowed to occur again. "All I can do is express disappointment as a parent."

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The Norovirus outbreak that struck Methodist Hospital in Nebraska last week, seems to be under control.  Health officials are still investigating the source of the outbreak:

About 100 health care workers at Methodist Hospital called in sick last week after suffering from intestinal illness and an upset stomach. Most were sick for two days.

Tuesday, officials at the Douglas County Health Department confirmed that norovirus was running through the building.

"We're talking about a disease that is one of nuisance, is not life-threatening, but certainly individuals who are predisposed to dehydration need to seek out medical attention," Methodist's Dr. Robert Penn said.

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An outbreak of Norovirus has hit Methodist hospital in Omaha, Nebraska and has affected both patients and staff.  The first case was reported on October 28:

The Douglas County Health Department said on Tuesday that Methodist Hospital has an outbreak of norovirus, and the virus may be sickening people in and around Omaha. Health director Dr. Adi Pour told KETV NewsWatch 7 that the Health Department has had some lab results in the last few days that tested positive for norovirus. She said that early indications are that it could be widespread, not just limited to Douglas County.

The Douglas County Health Department and Methodist Hospital will have a news conference on Wednesday to talk more about it.

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There has been a norovirus outbreak at a Sci-Con science camp in Springville.  Dozens of sixth graders have been sickened by the outbreak.  Click here for ABC's full report.

Officials from the health department were called in and say the kids may have been sickened by a norovirus, which causes stomach flu.

Medical tests have been ordered on some of the kids to determine exactly what made them sick. In the meantime, health officials have ordered the whole camp scrubbed from top to bottom.

"So, we're going through all the cabins, where the students sleep, the dining room, the classroom the museum, and just disinfecting every surface," said Camp Director Rick Mitchell.

Mitchell says a small army of volunteers including firefighters and carpet cleaners from Kern County are spending the weekend at the camp.

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Aileen Simborio with Fox 12 News has reported a possible norovirus outbreak at a hospital in Boise, Idaho.  The Central District Health Department is investigating the source of the outbreak:

A gastrointestinal virus, possibly norovirus, has sickened four patients and eight staff members at the Idaho Elks Rehabilitation Hospital in Boise.

And to prevent others from becoming infected, the health care facility is not accepting new patients Thursday or Friday. They're also taking other precautionary measures inside the hospital, to prevent the spread of the disease.

The Idaho Elks Rehabilitation Hospital in Boise treats orthopedic, stroke, brain and spinal cord injury patients. Thursday night, four of those patients are staying in private rooms, separated from the others, all because they're infected with some sort of gastrointestinal virus.

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Health officials continue to investigate the norovirus outbreak in Iowa.  53 of the employees at the casino had symptoms consistent with norovirus, but the inital report came from a guest:

Cleanup crews are working at the Isle of Carpi Casino and Hotel in the Quad Cities and health department officials are interviewing guests and staff after a suspected norovirus outbreak at the casino.

Louis Katz, the medical director of the Scott County Health Department, has been in daily contact with the Iowa health department about the suspected outbreak, said Roma Taylor, clinical services director for the county department.

“Everyone is working diligently to make sure (shutting the business down) doesn’t happen,” she said.

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Todd Frankel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports on the Norovirus outbreak that cancelled 3 cruises on the Mississippi Queen.  The ship will be sanitized and plans to sail again on November 8.

They bumped elbows instead of shaking hands. They washed their hands at every opportunity. They tried to avoid pushing elevator buttons or turning door knobs. On "Meet the Captain" night aboard the Mississippi Queen paddle-wheeler, passenger Louis Matustik opted for a distant salute rather than a firm handshake.

No one wanted to catch the dreaded Norwalk virus, which had sickened 30 percent of the passengers on the Queen's previous voyage as it headed for St. Louis.

So the passengers followed these instructions — no matter how exotic — given by federal public health officials, who insisted the ship was safe after a two-day, intensive cleaning.

But it wasn't enough. Matustik was one of at least 27 people stricken by the virus on that second trip, a seven-day journey from St. Louis to St. Paul, Minn. The trip was cut short Friday in Hannibal, Mo.

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A norovirus outbreak, also known as the cruise ship virus, has forced the Mississippi Queen to cancel an upcoming cruise and end others short. Please click here for the full article:

In an unusually virulent outbreak of Norovirus, Majestic America Line's Mississippi Queen has prematurely ended two different cruises -- and cancelled another outright -- over the past few weeks. In the first instance, during the voyage that departed October 18, some 20 percent of the vessel's 528 passengers and crew were reporting symptoms -- nausea, vomiting, mild fever and diarrhea. The cruise line wound up ending the seven-night Cincinnati to St. Louis trip two days early.

One passenger's symptoms were severe enough to require hospitalization. The rest were housed in a Cape Girardeau hotel, and, in an attempt to nip the virus in the bud, were asked to stay in their rooms (though a spokeswoman for the cruise line said, most vociferously, that they were not 'quarantined'). Majestic America then helped make travel arrangements for the passengers to return home.

Technorati Tags: Norovirus Outbreak, Mississippi Queen

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As of October 25, it has been reported that at least 175 students and faculty members have contracted the norovirus at the College of William and Mary:

Students told the station that they feel nervous about the outbreak: 'I know a lot of people who have come down with the virus. I'm hoping I don't get it. It sounds pretty nasty,' said Andrew Howell, who has several sick friends.

Technorati Tags: Norovirus Outbreak, College of William and Mary

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There have been two confirmed cases of norovirus in Davenport, Iowa, and many others with similar symptoms since October 18, but health officials believe that the outbreak has now subsided:

Officials say a contagious virus has been confirmed on the Isle of Capri Casino in Bettendorf -- but it appears to be subsiding after a substantial cleaning of the riverboat and its sister casino in Davenport.

The norovirus, what many think of stomach flu, causes nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramping.

Technorati Tags: Norovirus Outbreak, Iowa

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The Bellingham Herald has reported a norovirus outbreak hit an elementary school in Ferndale, Washington, on Tuesday. Please click here for more information:

An outbreak of gastroenteritis at Eagleridge Elementary School in Ferndale has the school district asking parents to keep their children home from school today in hopes of stopping the spread of the stomach illness.

Many students began vomiting and feeling feverish Tuesday night and Wednesday, according to a press release from the district issued Wednesday night. No number of victims was available.

Technorati Tags: Norovirus Outbreak, Washington

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The Associated Press has reported that there has been a norovirus outbreak at the College of William and Mary in Virginia:

Officials say more than 150 students at the Williamsburg school have sought treatment for flulike symptoms associated with a highly contagious norovirus.

The flulike illness broke out over the weekend, prompting 36 students to seek treatment by Monday evening for symptoms that included nausea, diarrhea, fever and an elevated white-cell count. School spokesman Brian Whitson says more than 100 students reported to the student health center on Tuesday with similar symptoms. He says some new cases were reported yesterday, but he believes the outbreak has peaked.

Technorati Tags: Virginia, Norovirus Outbreak

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There has been a norovirus outbreak at Sacred Heart hospital in Wisconsin which has afftected 44 people to date:

Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire says nine of its patients and 35 of its staff have shown symptoms of a stomach-flu-like virus.

The hospital says it has followed protocol to make sure that virus doesn't spread. Sacred Heart Hospital Director of Communications John Ganahl says as of last Monday, the hospital has stopped admitting new patients to its fourth floor--the behavioral health floor.

Ganahl says the staff and patients with the virus have Norovirus which is like the stomach flu but it is not related to the flu which is a respiratory virus.

Technorati Tags: Norovirus Outbreak, Sacred Heart hospital, Wisconsin

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The Dalles Chronicle has reported an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness in Wasco County:

"‘We’re aware of 76 cases, mostly at Flagstone and Columbia Basin,’ said Allyson Smith of the Wasco-Sherman Public Health Department, who said there had also been some cases at the Oregon State Veterans’ Home.

‘The earliest case we know was on Oct. 10,’ she said. ‘We won’t know what the source is until early next week, but the symptoms are consistent with norovirus.’     Results from the Oregon State Health Laboratory will probably be available by Tuesday, she said.  

According to a handout from the health department, norovirus, also known as Norwalk virus, is a general term for a family of viruses that cause the ‘stomach flu’ or gastrointestinal illness. It should not be confused with the influenza, which is the respiratory illness that people can be immunized against.

Technorati Tags: Norovirus Outbreak, Oregon

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Here's a health advisory regarding the recent norovirus outbreaks at Mount Allison University and St. Francis Xavier University:

"As most members of our campus community are aware, Mount Allison University dealt with an outbreak of the Norwalk virus last week, and St. Francis Xavier University is currently dealing with a suspected Norwalk-like virus on campus.

As of noon today, there were no reported cases of anyone at UPEI showing symptoms of this virus.

UPEI is being proactive in trying to avoid an outbreak here. Health and Student Services representatives have met with PEI’s Chief Health Officer, Dr. Lamont Sweet to discuss appropriate precautionary steps. Measures already implemented include an awareness campaign in the student residences, extra cleaning in key areas, and new hand sanitizing stations at entrances to the Wanda Wyatt Dining Hall."

Technorati Tags: Norovirus Outbreak, Mount Allison University, St. Francis Xavier University

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Interesting article from The Chronicle Herald about the outbreak of Norovirus at two Canadian Universities. If these outbreaks are connected, it shows just how quickly the norovirus can spread:

Dr. Shelly Sarwal, a provincial medical officer, said the Health Department is fairly sure an outbreak of vomiting and diarrhea that has affected 35 people at St. F.X. was caused by a norovirus that originated at Mount A.

"We don’t have lab confirmation from the St. F.X. students yet but it looks like norovirus because we have so many people ill suddenly," Dr. Sarwal said.

"It is a fairly common infection. My understanding from St. F.X. is that a few of their students were at Mount Allison last week."

Technorati Tags: Norovirus Outbreak, Canada

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Two weeks before the norovirus outbreak at Mount Allison Univeristy, there was a norovirus outbreak at the Univeristy of Alberta that left 130 students ill. The Canadian University Press reports more on the Mount Allison outbreak:

In the first 48 hours, the disease infected approximately 90 students - 39 went to Sackville Memorial Hospital for medical treatment - out of a total student body of approximately 2,070.  That was the morning of Oct. 12. By the following afternoon, the university was closed, and all events were cancelled.

  

 By Oct. 16, it had infected more than 300 students, more than 100 of in the Windsor Hall residence alone. Landon Braverman, a first-year student on the third floor of Windsor Hall, was among the first to fall ill.  He began showing symptoms late Oct. 11 and slowly watched as student after student succumbed to the illness.  

    

The following day, he said he was feeling much better and returned to his residence, where he slept for the following 12 hours.  He also reported that other students experienced shortness of breath, rapid weight loss and loss of a sense of time.

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St. Francis Xavier University in Canada is investigating an outbreak of

Norovirus which also hit Mount Allison University this past weekend:

St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, N.S., has temporarily closed a number of buildings and cancelled sports because of a Norwalk-type virus making the rounds. At least 35 students and staff at the university have reported symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea. University officials said the sick have been given drinks to stave off dehydration and campus nurses are in contact with them twice a day.

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It has been reported that a Norovirus outbreak has hit Mount Allison University in Canada. Health officials are still uncertain of the source of the outbreak:

Mount Allison University in N.B. reports that due to a recent outbreak of gastroenteritis (sometimes also called stomach flu), it has been asked by the New Brunswick Department of Health to cancel all classes and extra-curricular and co-curricular activities. The dining hall, all academic buildings and residences, and the library will remain open. The athletics center, the fitness center, and all other public buildings, including the Owens, are closed at present time. The university has suspended access to the facility by community groups or organizations.

A number of students have been affected by what is believed to be a Norwalk-type virus (presently called Norovirus), but test results are still pending. The 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. In most people the illness is self-limiting with symptoms lasting for about 1 or 2 days. In general, children experience more vomiting than adults. Most people with Norovirus illness have both of these symptoms.

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Officials say norovirus caused illnesses at Beach school Although they have not found the source of the outbreak, Virginia beach's health director, Venita Newby-Owens, stated:

"It is typically spread by poor hand- washing, poor hygiene techniques." If a person sick with a norovirus touches a surface, the virus can survive for as long as 12 days, she said. Anyone who touches the same surface and then touches his or her mouth could get sick."

Technorati Tags: Virginia, Norovirus Outbreak

Norovirus outbreak

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Health officials have been unable to determine the cause of the

norovirus outbreak in Virginia last week:

"A norovirus caused the gastrointestinal illness which swept through College Park Elementary School in Va. Beach last week, making more than 180 people sick. However, health department officials said Wednesday they don't know yet how students and staff were exposed."

Technorati Tags: Virginia, Norovirus Outbreak

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11/10/2006
http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/newsdetail1.asp?storyID=105356

There is another outbreak of the highly contagious norovirus at Christchurch Hospital.

Around 20 cases of the tummy bug were recorded at Christchurch and Princess Margaret Hospital in June. Christchurch Hospital is again recording numbers of people coming in with the virus and a ward was closed over the weekend because of the infection. Spokeswoman Michelle Hider says about seven patients and 10 staff were affected.

Norovirus is characterised by its rapid onset when exposed to an infected person, food or environment, but illness lasts only about 24 hours. Symptoms include diarrhoea, vomiting, stomach cramps, fever and headaches.

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By Satish Cheney

Channel NewsAsia

05 October 2006
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/234102/1/.html
Investigations have found that the recent food poisoning outbreak at Ang Mo Kio Secondary School was due mainly to gastric flu.

More than 200 students had fallen ill between September 25 and 28, and one pupil was hospitalised.

The Health Ministry said Norovirus was found in the stools of five food handlers at the school.

It believed the infection must have spread through the school canteen as food items could easily become contaminated.

The Ministry reminds the public to adopt food hygiene practices at all times and to see a doctor promptly if there are symptoms of diarrhoea or vomiting

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Capital Health will keep monitoring Lister as long as students are falling ill
Scott Lilwall
http://www.gateway.ualberta.ca/view.php?aid=6611

Several new cases of norovirus have been reported from within Lister Hall since Monday evening, extending the precautionary measures taken at the residence for at least another 48 hours.

Michael Janz, President of the Lister Hall Students’ Association, said the residence learned of the other cases during the daily reports that have been prepared by the building’s floor coordinators since the outbreak began. While he didn’t know the exact number of new cases since Monday, he stated that it was under 14.

Because of the new cases, Capital Health will continue to oversee Lister, and precautions to prevent further spread of the disease—such as individually served meals and the cancellation of group activities—will remain.

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http://www.wtnh.com/Global/story.asp?S=5497764&nav=3YeX

(Hamden-WTNH, Oct. 4, 2006 4:55 PM) - Dozens of people who live in a Hamden retirement community are on the mend tonight.

This after a nasty stomach bug swept through their facility.

More than 125 people who live in the Whitney Center and about a dozen staff members have gotten sick over the past ten days or so.

A few even had to go to the hospital but everybody is expected to make a full recovery.

Tests have confirmed that a highly contagious noro-virus is to blame.

The Whitney Center has shut down some of the facility's common areas to try to keep the virus from spreading any further.

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September 28, 2006
http://www.clickondetroit.com/health/9957476/detail.html
The outbreak of norovirus began with a family celebration and resulted in 23 people getting sick.

Jamie Kinser said her family's ordeal began at a relative's baby shower at the Frankenmuth Credit Union.

"My daughter woke up and she was ill at the same time I got ill," said Kinser. "We kept calling the county health department, and they kept telling us, 'We don't know.'"

Health officials said they suspect the family was infected with the norovirus, but the Kinser family is upset because the Saginaw County Health Department notified the Frankenmuth Chamber of Commerce but avoided telling the public, Local 4 reported.

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27.sep.06
Yorkton This Week & Enterprise
Ann Harvey

A flu-like outbreak, identified as Norwalk virus, has affected people at
Yorkton and District Nursing Home, all of whom are recovering, says
Gilbert Combres.
In an interview Monday morning the Sunrise Health Region public health
inspector, said 36 people out of the 49 in North 2 and about a dozen at
other sites have suffered the stomach flu-like symptoms including nausea,
vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and fever.
"There have been a couple of individuals in hospital but just for a short
time and they're back at the units now."
But, as of Monday, 32 of the 36 in North 2 are "up and about," he said.
"It's still a low enough number that we hope we have control of the whole
situation," Combres said. He noted that the rate of increase in new cases
has dropped.

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Wednesday, September 27, 2006
JILL ARMENTROUT
THE SAGINAW NEWS
It was correct for Saginaw County health leaders to ask Frankenmuth businesses to help control the spread of a norovirus outbreak, several community leaders and doctors say.

Dr. Neill Varner, medical director and acting health officer of the Saginaw County Department of Public Health, said he thinks the epidemiological team that made the decision not to contact media outlets "acted responsibly" in getting the word out in the community.

"The norovirus is not a condition that (requires reporting to the state), but it is one we are concerned about because it can affect large numbers of people," Varner said.

"It might have been nice in retrospect to inform the media, but the rationale was to see if we could stop it first rather than create anxiety. They did the appropriate thing. I'm not sure what benefit there would have been to tell people."

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East Central Health implements measures to help reduce the spread of the Norwalk Virus
Elaine Pennington, Editor
Sunday September 24, 2006

East Central Health has implemented extra infection prevention measures in several facilities in the region after an outbreak of Norwalk Virus.
Medical officer of health for East Central Health, Dr. Gerhard Benade said that as a result of the outbreak, visits to several nursing homes, care centres and hospitals was restricted after several patients and staff came down with viral gastroenteritis, a form of the stomach flu.

“The purpose is to bring it under control. They may come in contact with it (during a visit) or bring it in. We are having sporadic outbreaks of stomach flu across the region and we know that the other health authorities in the province are experiencing a similar problem,” Benade said.

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Tuesday, September 26, 2006
PAUL WYCHE
THE SAGINAW NEWS

Saginaw County Department of Public Health leaders decided against alerting media outlets about a week-old norovirus outbreak in Frankenmuth for fear it would cause undue alarm and hurt the community's tourism business, one health official acknowledged.

Frankenmuth School District administrators learned about the illness a week or so ago and told parents of students.

Kevin Leitz, director of health promotions and communications division with the health department, said the impact of such an alert on Frankenmuth's economy was a concern.

Frankenmuth is one of the top five tourist destinations in Michigan.

"We wanted to make sure we were not stirring something up," Leitz said.

"Our main concern was the stopping the spread. It will rear its head eventually some place else."

Leitz said he contacted the Frankenmuth Chamber of Commerce, which in turn notified businesses via e-mail not only about the virus, but also how to best stop its spread by practicing good hygiene, such as hand-washing.

"This was done in a matter of 10 to 15 minutes," Leitz said.

"We have that level of communication with Frankenmuth. I felt comfortable getting that information to the businesses.

"We also did not want to cause wide-spread alarm. We feel we acted properly. I stand by what we did."

Leitz said it is doubtful the virus will spread quickly outside the city, so the department didn't issue a county warning.

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Theresa Seraphim
Tuesday September 26, 2006

Measures are being put in place to control an outbreak of Norovirus (stomach flu) in communities across the East Central Health (ECH) region.
Dr. Gerhard Benade, the region's chief medical officer of health, said visitors to hospitals and extended care facilities are seeing posters on walls and hand washing stations everywhere in those places.
Also, said Benade, visits may be limited so that the chain of transmission may be broken.
"We are well on our way to controlling it in Vermilion," Benade stressed.
However, the public needs to be aware that the illness is occurring in the region and ECH is asking for everyone's collaboration in minimizing the risk.
Norovirus, formerly called the Norwalk virus, is characterized by vomiting and/or diarrhea and minor flu-like symptoms, including muscle aches and low-grade fever. The symptoms develop within two days of exposure and last between 24 and 48 hours.

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14.sep.06
Eurosurveillance Weekly
So far in 2006, in Sweden, there have been four outbreaks of norovirus gastroenteritis where raspberries were the suspected vehicle of infection. The first outbreak occurred at the end of June, the second was at the beginning of August and the third and fourth at the end of August. All the outbreaks occurred in the south western part of the country. In total, 43 people became ill and all these people had eaten raspberries as part of various different dishes.

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13.sep.06
The Border Telegraph (UK)
http://www.bordertelegraph.com/?module=displaystory&story_id=1098&format=html
A Galashiels school was closed for two days last week after staff and pupils were hit by a virus.
A total of 44 children and five staff were absent from Balmoral Primary after becoming infected with the Norovirus, and the head teacher, Anne Thomson, decided to close the school.
A spokesman for Scottish Borders Council’s Education Department said that parents were advised to keep their children off school until the virus had cleared and they were fully recovered.
A spokesperson from NHS Borders confirmed that the children and adults received treatment for the Norovirus infection and released an information booklet about the bug.
The Border Telegraph has learned that the Norovirus is also known as the ‘Winter Vomiting Disease’, though it can occur at any time of the year.

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By MARKUS ERMISCH
Staff reporter
Sep 03 2006

Of the two deaths reported at Ponderosa Lodge this past week, one was related to the outbreak of the Norwalk virus in the facility.

Dr. Digby Horne, a medical health officer with the Interior Health Authority, said the family of the patient did not want to have the symptoms treated.

The second patient who died was in palliative care and his death was not related to Norwalk, Horne said.

The outbreak of the virus at the facility has been declared over as no new cases have been reported.

More than 30 cases of Norwalk had been reported at Ponderosa, with more than half of the cases impacting patients.

Norwalk is an influenza-like virus that causes nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Continue Reading...

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By CHRISTOPHER CAIN
The News Bulletin
Aug 24 2006

The Norovirus outbreak that affected approximately 26 patients and 20 staff at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital has been put to bed.

And a suspected outbreak of sickness at Dufferin Place turned out not to be Norovirus.

ìExceptional co-operation has been demonstrated on the part of everyone involved in this outbreak,î said Lesley Moss, executive director of Quality and Patient Safety for Vancouver Island Health Authority.

ìOur staff and physicians (at NRGH) are to be congratulated.î

Lab results have confirmed that no cases of Norovirus were found in residents of Dufferin Place.

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Cleaners have been busy at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, trying to keep ahead of an outbreak of Norovirus.

By CHRIS HAMLYN
The News Bulletin
Aug 24 2006

It has been a busy couple of weeks for Dan Costello, infection, prevention and control practitioner at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital.

Costello, Dr. David Forrest, infection prevention and control associate director for the Vancouver Island Health Authority and staff have been dealing with a Norovirus outbreak in the hospital, trying to stay one step ahead in the cleaning process.

The suspected cause was the visit of one person to NRGH with the virus during a busy time in the emergency department.

ìThereís a high incident of this gastro-intestinal virus in the community and many people required assistance in the emergency department since early August,î said Costello.

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Officials advise precautions
By CHRISTOPHER DIEM, Journal Staff Writer

MARQUETTE ó A recent outbreak of a norovirus-like illness in Marquette County has Marquette County Health Department officials advising residents to take precautions.

Marquette General Hospital and the health department have received increased reports of sudden nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. While a specific cause has not been determined, the symptoms and the easily contracted nature of the outbreak suggests a ìnorovirus-like illness,î according to a health department press release.

ìThe first indication we had was a call from Marquette General where they were seeing more people coming through the emergency room (with the symptoms). Some of the people coming to visit out-patients at the hospital were also exhibiting symptoms. Shortly thereafter some of the employees at the hospital got sick,î said Dr. Randall Johnson, director of the health department.

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By Christopher Cain
The news Bulletin
Aug 15 2006

An outbreak of norovirus has health officials at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital taking strong precautions to contain the spreading of the virus.

The Vancouver Island Health Authority is enforcing strict visitor restrictions at NRGH, and they are requesting that the public avoid all non-essential visits to the hospital.

The virus came into NRGH on Aug. 5. Since then, 27 patients and 13 staff have been infected.

ìAll of the affected units are under isolation for terminal cleans,î said Shannon Marshall, VIHA communications advisor.

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August 12, 2006

WHITEFORD, Md., (UPI) -- Contaminated well water is being blamed for an outbreak of Norovirus that sickened some 200 campers at a Boy Scout reservation in Maryland.

Harford County health officials said the water at the Broad Creek Memorial Scout Reservation tested positive this week for fecal coliform bacteria, which led to the gastrointestinal condition last week.

The outbreak struck as about 1,200 campers ranging in age from 5 to 18 were taking part in a jamboree for kids of Polish descent from the United States and other nations.

The Baltimore Sun said bottled water was brought in and the camp was scheduled to close for the season Saturday. The health department and camp officials will fix the well during the off-season.

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By Mary Gail Hare
Sun Reporter
August 12, 2006

A contaminated well at Broad Creek Memorial Scout Reservation in Harford County sickened as many as 200 campers last week, according to county health officials, who said they were concerned that the camp did not report the outbreak.

"We found a fair number of children were ill and acted immediately to prevent the spread of disease," said Dr. Andrew Bernstein, Harford's health officer.

Results of samples from the well tested positive yesterday for fecal coliform bacteria. The camp, which closes for the season today, has brought in bottled water and cannot use water from the well for drinking or food handling.

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By Darrell Bellaart
The news Bulletin
Aug 10 2006

Twenty people have fallen ill with a suspected Norwalk virus, and health authorities urge all but the most seriously ill to stay at home to prevent its further spread.

The highly contagious stomach bug appears to be have started with a patient admitted to Nanaimo Regional General Hospital Aug. 5.

Eight more patients have since shown similar symptoms ñ nausea, vomiting and diarrhea ñ and five staff members and four paramedics have also fallen ill. Two family members of admitted patients have also come down with the bug.

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07.aug.06
Salem News.com (OR)
http://www.salem-news.com/articles/august072006/illness_lane_8706.php

(EUGENE) - As of 11:00 AM, Thursday, Lane County Public Health officials have, according to this stor, received 75 reports of gastrointestinal illness.
Lane County Environmental Health is working with Faerieworlds Festival organizers and interviewing food vendors.

Public Health employees are interviewing cases to provide education to prevent further spread and to gather information which may or may not identify a common source beyond attendance at the festival.

Jeff Lang, Environmental Health, was quoted as saying, "Those interviewed cases are generally reporting improvement from illness between 24 and 48 hours."

Public Health officials expect lab reports from the Oregon State Public Health Lab back this week, which should identify the specific organism.

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Hand washing best for avoidance
By MIKE JOHNSTON
August 5 2006

Reported cases of the gastrointestinal illness caused by a norovirus in the Ellensburg area have slowed to a trickle, but health officials believe people are still getting sick who are not reporting the illness that includes nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal cramping.

Reports began coming in July 24 and reached a peak July 27-28.

The Kittitas County Health Department said frequent hand washing is still the best defense against the maladyís spread.

Jerry Harris, the departmentís emergency response coordinator, said six more cases were reported since Tuesday, bringing the departmentís count to 162.

ìWe know there are more out there getting sick, but we believe the outbreak is winding down,î Harris said.

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Wednesday, August 2 2006
BY ANDRU MCCRACKEN
Robson Valley Times

Visitors are restricted until further notice and special rigorous procedures will be in place until a virus passes through the McBride Hospital.

Three patients and one staff member have become ill with nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.

Dr. Lorna Medd said that the illness is likely related to the Norwalk virus.

Medd said that there is intense monitoring in place and that they are following an outbreak protocol.

Along with visiting restrictions to prevent the virus from going into the community and from entering the hospital, staff is cleaning and disinfecting the hospital to a higher standard than usual.

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Yakima Herald-Republic
August 2, 2006

ELLENSBURG ó Tests have confirmed that more than 150 people reporting diarrhea and nausea in Kittitas County have a norovirus, commonly known as the "cruise ship virus," public health officials said Tuesday.

The outbreak was announced last week by the Kittitas County Public Health Department, which continued to investigate the cause.

The highly contagious virus, for which there is no cure or antibiotic, usually causes intense vomiting and diarrhea. Symptoms usually last one or two days, but the virus might be contagious for three or so days after that.

The virus is typically spread by eating infected food, touching contaminated objects or contacting an infected person.

People can decrease their chances of becoming sick by washing their hands frequently and thoroughly cleaning any infected surfaces, according to a news release from the health department.

Norovirus patients should not prepare food while they are sick or for three days afterward, health officials said.

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The Associated Press
August 2, 2006

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - State health officials investigated the norovirus deaths of three residents of a long-term care facility in Southeast Alaska.

Others - including staff and residents at another facility - became severely ill from the highly contagious virus, according to the state epidemiology office. Officials have not identified the facilities or the communities.

The worst outbreak began June 28, when a staff member at "Facility A" came down with the gastrointestinal illness. The a resident there got sick in a common room on July 5, followed by 16 staff and residents who got ill over the next two days.

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Eryka Washington
July 31, 2006

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- An exciting vacation at sea became a disappointing medical drama for some cruise passengers over the weekend.

Thousands of people disembarked from Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas on Sunday, with over 200 of them still feeling the effects of a norovirus, WESH 2 News reported.

"Get me off the ship, please. I couldn't wait to get off," a passenger said.

The Mariner of the Seas arrived at Port Canaveral around 6 a.m. Sunday. Aboard the ship, nearly 230 passengers and several crewmembers who fell ill after contracting a norovirus.

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I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY PEOPLE GO ON CRUISES ANYMORE?

BY J.D. GALLOP
FLORIDA TODAY

PORT CANAVERAL -- Most of the passengers left the Mariner of the Seas this morning, including some with stories of rampant stomach sickness, crippling diarrhea and cabin quarantines aboard the Royal Caribbean cruise ship.

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By REBECCA ADAMUS
FLORIDA TODAY

Cruise ship Mariner of the Seas returns to Port Canaveral on Sunday, following a seven-day cruise.

More than 200 passengers and crew members on a Royal Caribbean cruise that began in Port Canaveral seven days ago will return home Sunday suffering from a gastrointestinal illness.

It will mark the second time this year the cruise ship will dock in Brevard County with more than 200 sick passengers.

The illness, thought to be a norovirus ó which is frequently referred to as a stomach flu ó struck 221 of the shipís 3,660 passengers and six of its 1,202 crew members. One of the shipís passengers might have brought it on board, said Michael Sheehan, spokesman for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.

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July 27, 2006
Gainesville.com

The intestinal illness that has affected a number of residents of the Atrium, a Gainesville retirement community, has been identified, Alachua County health officials said Wednesday.

The state laboratory's analysis indicate the culprit is a norovirus, according to county Health Director Tom Belcuore. The family of noroviruses cause vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramps that come on quickly and usually last a day or two. There is no specific treatment.

Belcuore said the cases reported over the past 10 days at the Atrium apparently are a result of person-to-person spread of the virus.

"We have found no common source," he said.

Belcuore warned that although the illness has apparently run its course at the Atrium, it is now out in the community. "It is definitely making the rounds," he said.

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Paul Martiquet, medical health officer for Vancouver Coastal Health, said the gastrointestinal infection, formerly known as Norwalk, has struck an apartment complex and a group home in the past week.

The outbreak at Glacier Apartments is over, but one of the Powell River Association for Community Living (PRACL) group homes is still battling the virus, said Martiquet.

Lilla Tipton, executive director of PRACL, could not confirm presence of the virus, but said a suspected case of illness is contained in one of the homes.

The symptoms include nausea, vomiting and diarrhea and last for about 48 hours, but people are contagious for a further 48 hours after the resolution of symptoms, Martiquet said.

"If people are sick they should stay home and stay off work," said Lu Wuthrich, an infection control practitioner. To prevent infection, readers are urged to wash their hands after toilet visits and before preparing or eating food and to dispose of sewage in a sanitary manner.

Health officials in the Lower Mainland have been dealing with norovirus since May.

editor@prpeak.com

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The Associated Press
July 19, 2006

VANCOUVER, British Columbia ó For the second time this summer, a wave of illness believed to be from norovirus has hit a Celebrity Cruise ship along the Alaska coastal route, health officials said.

Kevin Carlisle, a Health Canada environmental health officer, said nausea, vomiting and diarrhea afflicted 105 of the 2,282 passengers and 20 of the 952 crew members on the company's ship Infinity, which returned to Vancouver on Sunday from a seven-day Alaskan cruise.

Those who were ill responded well to treatment, according to a company statement.

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Tuesday, July 18, 2006
KREM 2 NEWS

SPOKANE -- A Norovirus outbreak that began at Sacred Heart Medical Center has now spread to two assisted living centers in the Spokane area. The virus is highly contagious and brings on a short-lived but very uncomfortable illness.

Spokane Regional Health District officials say they are not surprised by the outbreak and spreading of Norovirus. The illness brings on symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps, muscle aches and chills.

The best way to prevent Norovirus is to constantly wash your hands throughout the day

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Canadian Press
Jul. 18, 2006

VANCOUVERóOne hundred and twenty-five people became sick on a large cruise ship that returned to Vancouver on Sunday after a seven-day Alaskan cruise.

A Health Canada official said those people ó 105 of the 2,282 passengers and 20 of the 952 crew of the Celebrity Cruises ship Infinity ó had symptoms consistent with a common gastrointestinal illness called Norovirus, which results in nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Another suspected outbreak of Norovirus made roughly the same number of people ill in June on the Mercury, a Celebrity Cruises vessel on the Seattle-Alaska run.

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18.jul.06
The Vancouver Sun
Glen Bohn

VANCOUVER - One hundred and twenty-five people became sick on a large cruise ship that returned to Vancouver on Sunday after a seven-day Alaskan cruise.

A Health Canada official said those people -- 105 of the 2,282 passengers and 20 of the 952 crew of the Celebrity Cruises ship Infinity -- had symptoms consistent with common gastrointestinal illness called Norovirus, which results in nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

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Monday, July 17, 2006
CBC News

An unusual summer outbreak of the norovirus in the Edmonton area has health officials urging the public to take precautions to avoid the illness.

Capital Health says there have been six suspected outbreaks of norovirus in the past week.

The virus, formerly called Norwalk, has struck continuing care facilities, seniors homes, an acute care hospital and a food facility.

The virus typically causes vomiting and diarrhea, but it can be debilitating for the very young, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems.

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KXLY.com
Friday, July 14th, 2006
News4 Staff

SPOKANE -- Health officials at Sacred Heart Medical Center confirm that 37 people have contracted norovirus in the adult psych department at the hospital.

Officials say the norovirus outbreak has been confined to the adult psych unit.

Norovirus causes acute gastroenteritis ("stomach flu"), which is characterized by acute-onset vomiting; watery, non-bloody diarrhea with abdominal cramps, and nausea.

Onset of the illness can be very sudden, according to the Centers for Disease Control, and symptoms can last between 24 to 48 hours.

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Thursday, July 13th, 2006
KXLY.com Staff

SPOKANE -- Sacred Heart Medical Center has told News4 it has a norovirus-like outbreak in the adult psych unit.

The hospital says it is not clear what kind of flu is in the psych unit, but it is doing all it can to contain the outbreak in that part of the hospital.

Although people who have the infection may feel sick for several days, the illness is seldom serious.

News4 is told epidemiology teams are working closely with the county and regional health districts, and a team of clinicians has met to develop immediate action steps to protect staff and patients.

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11.jul.06
The Blade, Toledo, Ohio
Knight-Ridder Tribune
Erica Blake

The Toledo-Lucas County health department was cited as saying yesterday that ontaminated potato salad that made about 100 people sick in the Bowling Green area also was the likely source of a food-borne illness that affected as many as 35 more people at two other catered events.

Alan Ruffell, the health department's director of environmental health, was cited as saying that the same potato salad that led health inspectors to Nick & Jimmy's Bar & Grill, 4956 Monroe St., was believed to have been served at an office lunch party on June 16 and a g raduation party June 17 -- both held in Lucas County.

Those who became ill at the two Lucas County parties are in addition to the nearly 100 people sickened June 15 at a graduation party in Wood County.
The Ohio Department of Health, which is investigating the complaint, found that eight stool samples from people who ate the potato salad tested positive for Norovirus.

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By Doug Page
Staff Writer
July 11, 2006

TROY ó Contamination traced to poor food handling likely sickened at least 120 patrons of a Mexican restaurant last month.

None of those sickened, who ate at La Fiesta Restaurant on June 23 and 24, were required to stay in a hospital, according to the Miami County Health Department.

Tests of stool samples and leftover food found the presence of norovirus, a class of virus long associated with "stomach flu" and other gastrointestinal ailments.

"The virus is typically spread through food or water by a sick person who does not wash their hands well after using the restroom," Chris Cook of the health department said Tuesday.

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By Laura Watson
July 11, 2006

The Iowa Department of Public Health has confirmed that people who attended the Special Olympic US National Championships contracted norovirus

The Iowa Department of Public Health has confirmed that at least 30 people involved with the US Special Olympic National Championships indeed tested positive for a strain of stomach virus. Norovirus is said to be a common cause of viral gastroenteritis, normally associated with the stomach virus and is said to be associated with food and or water.

Nearly 30000 people attended the 6 day event, and the fear is that people who left on Saturday would bring the virus back home with them. To date, ten have been hospitalized, and more are in quarantine at a recreation center at Iowa State University.

"We don't want the hospitals to be overwhelmed," said Mary Mincer Hansen, director for the Iowa Department of Public Health.

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'Stomach Flu' Sickens More Than 50 People At National Special Olympics

AMES, Iowa -- State health officials said Saturday that the Norovirus outbreak that infected more than 50 people and left 10 hospitalized during the Special Olympics National Games is over.

A spokeswoman with the Iowa Department of Public Health said no new cases were reported on Saturday.

The Norovirus, also commonly referred to as "stomach flu," didn't stop athletes and coaches from returning home on Friday the spokeswoman said.

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08.jul.06
The Gazette (Iowa City, Iowa)

AMES, IA - The illness that struck at least 30 people at the Special Olympics USA National Games Friday was apparently caused by norovirus, Iowa Department of Public Health officials said this morning.

Samples taken from ill individuals tested positive for norovirus at the state's public health laboratory, according to an IDPH release. Norovirus is a common cause of viral gastroenteritis, or "stomach flu," and outbreaks are normally associated with food or water, officials said.

The source of the outbreak has not yet been confirmed, but Story County and IDPH officials continue to investigate. It will be difficult to know how many people were affected, as some likely did not seek medical care, officials said.

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Special Olympics Athletes, Volunteers Fall Sick

July 8, 2006
KCCI.com

AMES, Iowa -- Iowa Department of Public Health officials have confirmed that initial samples obtained in Ames from ill individuals have tested positive for norovirus.

Norovirus is a common cause of viral gastroenteritis or "stomach flu." Outbreaks are normally associated with food and water.

Officials said Saturday morning that the source of the outbreak that infected 50 to 55 people during the National Special Olympics has not been identified. Ten people were hospitalized.

"Norovirus can be spread from person to person, especially among family members," said IDPH Director Mary Mincer Hansen. "That's why its important for those experiencing symptoms to contact their health care provider. The main risk is dehydration, so it's important to drink plenty of fluids."

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'Stomach Flu' Sickens More Than 50 People At National Special Olympics

July 9, 2006
KCCI.com

AMES, Iowa -- State health officials said Saturday that the Norovirus outbreak that infected more than 50 people and left 10 hospitalized during the Special Olympics National Games is over.

A spokeswoman with the Iowa Department of Public Health said no new cases were reported on Saturday.

The Norovirus, also commonly referred to as "stomach flu," didn't stop athletes and coaches from returning home on Friday the spokeswoman said.

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BRIAN DONNELLY
July 06 2006

THE owners of a cruise ship at the centre of a second vomiting bug outbreak yesterday said they would rip out many of the ship's carpets in an attempt to wipe out the infection.

As the Black Prince returned to Leith yesterday, an investigation was under way into the latest outbreak which left more than 100 of the liner's passengers sick.
The ship left Edinburgh for an excursion to Greenland and Iceland on June 22.
Last month 136 passengers on the same vessel were diagnosed with a strain of the Norovirus bug while on a cruise to Norway.

The Norovirus causes vomiting and diarrhoea which usually last up to 48 hours.
It comes in many different strains and it is not yet clear if this strain is the same as the one that affected the ship last month. Yesterday, the ship's operators, Fred Olsen, said the vessel would remain at Leith for two days for extensive cleaning including the removal of carpets.

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Jul 5 2006

A cruise liner is back in port having been hit by a vomiting bug for the second time in a month. (Pic: www.fredolsencruises.com)

More than 100 people aboard the Fred Olsen liner Black Prince fell ill with the Norovirus during a trip from Edinburgh to Greenland and Iceland which departed on June 22.

The ship has now docked in Leith and is expected to remain there for two days for extensive cleaning and disinfecting.

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CALUM MACDONALD
July 05 2006

A cruise liner is returning to Scotland after a second serious outbreak of sickness among passengers in less than a month.

More than 100 people aboard the Fred Olsen liner Black Prince have been confined to their cabins after reporting ill with vomiting and diarrhoea.
It is only three weeks since 136 cases of the norovirus bug were confirmed among passengers aboard the vessel during a Norwegian fjord cruise.

The latest outbreak affected a cruise to Greenland and Iceland, which left Leith on June 22 and is due back today.

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Monday, July 03, 2006
By DEAN BAKER and JOSE PAUL CORONA, Columbian Staff Writers

Six people from a Hazel Dell assisted living facility were transported to Vancouver hospitals Monday, but it wasn't immediately clear whether they were suffering from norovirus or some other intestinal ailment.

Five residents and one staff member from Prestige Assisted Living in Hazel Dell were stricken with diarrhea and vomiting, said Dr. Alan Melnick, Clark County health officer.

"Two were admitted (to the hospital) and we've sent out specialists to investigate," Melnick said Monday afternoon. "We haven't even categorized what this is yet. I'm not assuming anything. We'll take whatever measures make sense. There is no risk to the general public."

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Monday, 3 July 2006
Australia

The Hunter is experiencing a surge in gastroenteritis cases with many Maitland residents falling ill to the virus.

Viral gastroenteritis - a common infection of the stomach and intestines that results in vomiting and diarrhoea - has been on the rise across the State since April and reached a peak in the Hunter during May and June.

Hunter New England Health population health physician Craig Dalton said the increase of cases had resulted in outbreaks among families and closed institutions such as childcare centres and aged care facilities.

"This particular form of gastroenteritis, known as norovirus, seems to spare young children but it can be fatal for frail and aged members of the community," Dr Dalton said.

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The Press Democrat
Jul 1, 2006

The number of infections from norovirus, which causes flulike symptoms, has reached 772 cases, according to the Sonoma County Public Health Department.

Since the outbreak began in mid-March, 16 care facilities have reported patients with symptoms of the norovirus, but the county has refused to name them until 48 hours pass without a new case being reported, when the outbreak will be considered over.

"The number in the past week were 26 cases. It has gotten down to a steady level, which may be the normal background level and we are just watching it more carefully," said Dr. Leigh Hall, deputy public health officer.

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The Press
June 30, 2006
By MIKE STEERE

Dozens of residents from two Christchurch retirement homes are recovering from a fresh outbreak of the highly infectious norovirus stomach bug.

The new spread of the bug into retirement homes is believed to be linked to an outbreak at Princess Margaret Hospital and Christchurch Hospital in May.

Then, 12 staff and dozens of patients from both hospitals came down with the bug.

Healthy people usually recover from norovirus within two days, but children, the elderly and the already ill can be severely affected.

The Kate Sheppard Lifecare Centre and the Archer Memorial Baptist Home were the only two confirmed locations of the latest outbreak, although an industry source said they had heard of other homes affected.

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National News
Friday June 30, 2006
By Errol Kiong

Health officials say raw oysters imported from Korea are the likeliest source of a gastroenteritis outbreak among corporate patrons at the All Blacks-Ireland test at Eden Park.

Although the Auckland Regional Public Health Service investigation has yet to be completed, testing has confirmed norovirus to be the cause of illness among patrons at the match.

Of 407 people interviewed, 81 have reported being ill. The Hall of Legends hospitality area had the highest sickness rate of all four corporate areas affected on the night of June 17.

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June 27, 2006
Associated Press
KWQC TV6 (Illinois)
http://www.kwqc.com/Global/story.asp?S=5083179&nav=menu83_3_2_2

CARLYLE, Ill. -- Health officials were cited as saying a norovirus likely was responsible for sickening more than 20 people who visited the Carlyle Sailing Association marina two weeks ago.

Mike McMillan of the Clinton County Health Department was cited as saying tests didn't reveal any food-related cause for the ailment and that his department hasn't found any common thread among those who became sick, except that they had all been to the marina.

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WIBW Topeka, KS

At least 54 people got sick last week while taking part in the annual Biking Across Kansas event last week.

A dozen riders were hospitalized with diarrhea, vomiting, fever and dehydration.

About 860 cyclists rode in the eight-day event, which took them on a 485-mile route through southern Kansas.

State health officials say it traced at least some of the illnesses to norovirus, a gastrointestinal virus that is easily spread by contact with infected people or contaminated food and beverages.

Ride director Charlie Summers said the virus might have hit some cyclists soon after the trip began June Tenth at the Colorado border.

Event officials say they're considering ways to improve hygiene along the route next year, and expect to change the informal way it provides snacks at rest stops.

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22.jun.06
Kansas City Info Zine

Topeka, Kan. - The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has identified norovirus as a cause for at least some of the cases of gastrointestinal illness among several participants of the Biking Across Kansas (BAK) tour.

About 850 people from 33 states, including Kansas, participated in the tour. In addition to Kansas, KDHE epidemiologists have identified ill persons from ten states.

Twelve BAK participants have tested positive for norovirus through the KDHE Division of Health and Environmental Laboratories; one of these persons has also tested positive for rotavirus through a private laboratory. Some samples are being sent to the state public health laboratory in Minnesota for further testing.

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Tanya Giles
Herald Sun
21jun06

AN OUTBREAK of gastroenteritis among Austin Hospital patients yesterday led to the cancelling of non-urgent elective surgery and the hospital going on bypass for 24 hours.

Six patients in the hospital's acute care Ward 8 North are believed to have been struck down with the highly infectious norovirus strain.

Another five patients in two geriatric wards at the nearby Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital have also been infected.

Symptoms of norovirus include a sudden onset of nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Some victims also have a high temperature, headaches and aching limbs.

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Health
June 20, 2006

Hong Kong-People are reminded to guard against intestinal virus infections after a rise in noroviral gastroenteritis outbreaks in elderly homes and hospitals.

Since May, there have been 35 confirmed norovirus outbreaks in elderly homes and seven in hospitals affecting 565 people. These compared with 17 and seven outbreaks in elderly homes and hospitals respectively and 260 people in the first four months.

Seventy-four cases of noroviral gastroenteritis outbreaks in institutions, including childcare centres and schools, involving 999 people have been reported so far this year. In 2005, there were 42 norovirus outbreaks in institutions, affecting 643 people.

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Alexandra Wood
Yorkshire Post
June 14, 2006

A SHIP which has been struck with a vomiting bug three times has four new cases of illnesses aboard, Hull and Goole Port health Authority said yesterday.
The MV Funchal which docks in Hull tonight after a voyage to the Norwegian fjords will be met by port health officials. The cruiseliner hit the headlines last week after the latest outbreak of highly infectious Norovirus left 69 passengers ill.
Chief port health inspector Laurence Dettman said it appeared to be a gastroenteritis type of illness.
Mr Dettman said they'd ensured the ship was "deep cleaned" when it was last in the port, including stripping the beds, spraying mattresses and all fixtures and fittings with viral disinfectant.

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The Associated Press
June 9, 2006

SEATTLE - The Celebrity cruise ship Mercury returned to Seattle Friday morning with 115 people who had a gastrointestinal illness during their 7-night voyage to Alaska, the cruise company said.

Three of the ship's 847 crew members also experienced the illness, a suspected Norovirus brought onboard by someone previously exposed. The Mercury carried 2,034 passengers on the voyage.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Noroviruses affect 23 million Americans annually. The only illness more prevalent is the common cold.

"The reason you hear about Norovirus on cruise ships is because they are required to report every incidence of gastrointestinal illness," said Dave Forney, chief of the vessel sanitation program of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Protection, in a statement. "Nowhere else in the public health system of the United States is Norovirus a reportable illness. Norovirus is not a cruise-ship illness, but an illness commonly seen in many settings throughout the United States."

Celebrity Cruises blames an increased number of Norovirus cases on land for the increase in incidents on board their ships. The company has instituted a new illness prevention program focusing on increased sanitation, enhanced cleaning procedures and special cleaning of "high touch" areas on the ship.

The company has added two additional doctors to its crew, bringing the total number of doctors onboard the Mercury to four, along with three nurses.

Mercury sailed from Seattle on Friday, June 2, and visited Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan, Alaska, Hubbard Glacier and the Inside Passage.

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June 6, 2006
Rocky Mountain News (CO)
Ellen Miller

GRAND JUNCTION - At least two dozen players and spectators in the Colorado West Amateur golf tournament were stricken with nausea and other flu-like ills in sweltering heat during the weekend at Bookcliff Country Club, participants said Monday.

The event's winner, Chase Wortmann, 22, of Fruita, said he threw up Saturday night and three times Sunday, including once during his 1-under round of 70, which was good enough to give him his third straight CWA title.

"It was a grind,'' said Wortmann, who drank ginger ale and medication given to children to restore electrolytes during his round.

Nearly 200 golfers from around the state competed in the three-day tournament.

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