Norovirus Blog

Norovirus Confirmed At Michigan's Hope College

marler@marlerclark.com (Norovirus Lawyer) — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 14:27:57 -0800

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!

Norovirus Begins Having Its Way With UW-Madison

marler@marlerclark.com (Norovirus Lawyer) — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 10:52:18 -0800

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.

Holland, Michigan Campus Hopes Norovirus Too Shall Pass

marler@marlerclark.com (Norovirus Attorney) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 10:21:14 -0800

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.

University of Arizona Suffers Through Norovirus Outbreak

marler@marlerclark.com (Norovirus Lawyer) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 10:34:49 -0800

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.

Norovirus Season Kicks Off At Virginia Public School

marler@marlerclark.com (Norovirus Lawyer) — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 14:50:35 -0800

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.

Georgetown And USC Are Fighting Norovirus Outbreaks

marler@marlerclark.com (Norovirus Lawyer) — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 20:21:42 -0800

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.

Brits Get Ready For Another Round of Norovirus

marler@marlerclark.com (Norovirus Attorney) — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 15:30:23 -0800

Brits call it "the vomiting bug" and they are getting ready for its return, reports the UK's Daily Star. Last winter’s epidemic saw an estimated 200,000 people a week struck down by the norovirus. Now, between doing its best to keep the soft porn business alive, the Daily Star is doing its best to prepare folks for still more norovirus. It reports:

The winter vomiting bug that caused chaos earlier this year is set for a terrifying comeback. Health experts fear the norovirus will once again hit hundreds of thousands of Brits.

Already, hospital wards in Worcestershire have been closed amid signs that the sickness and diarrhoea bug has claimed a wave of new victims.

NHS Direct has been advising people to treat the bug with an anti-diarrhoea treatment such as Imodium as well as drinking plenty of fluids. Experts warn the elderly are particularly at risk and recommend staying at home to avoid spreading the bug.

For more, go here.

EPA Funds Norovirus Research At PNW National Lab

marler@marlerclark.com (Norovirus Attorney) — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 11:28:52 -0800

We often find ourselves running from one Norovirus outbreak to another on this blog. There have been so many in the past year that it has left us little time to look at other Norovirus-related news.

That's why we are especially happy to pass along information about some research going on in the Pacific Northwest that holds the promise of providing solutions for water-borne Norovirus.

The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory has won a $600,000 grant from the Environmental Protection Agency for a research project that will develop an automated method for quantifying and monitoring viruses in water that cause gastrointestinal illness.

"EPA wants to find out where exactly the virus comes from and how prevalent it is in our drinking water supply," said Tim Straub, a senior research scientist at PNNL. He spoke with the Kennewick, WA based Tri-City Herald. The newspaper said:

Straub's research deals with human norovirus, which is transmitted through consumption of fecally contaminated water or food and by direct contact with an infected person.

An estimated 23 million cases of acute gastroenteritis are caused by norovirus infection in the U.S., the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on its website.

But it's not easy to monitor the virus, because it occurs in small quantities in a very large volume of water. So, it's possible that if two people drink water from the same source, only one may become infected with the virus.

EPA wants to help eliminate that probability factor by supporting research that makes it easier to detect the virus in water supply systems, he said.

The rest of the story can be found here.

Rhode Island, New York, & Minnesota All Reporting Norovirus

marler@marlerclark.com (Norovirus Lawyer) — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 15:19:13 -0800

Food prepared at the East Greenwich Gourmet between July 30th and Aug. 1st should be tossed because it might be contaminated with Norovirus.

Rhode Island public health officials discovered the problem when every other guest at a weekend event serving East Greenwich Gourmet foods got sick.

In other Norovirus news, the New York Department of Health issued an advisory to camp directors and medical staff about the spread of the bug through the state's many summer camps.

And in Minnesota, 20 people who attended a Rochester an Aug. 1 wedding reception became ill after "eating tortilla chips contaminated with norovirus, possibly from fecal matter."

Oh Boy!

440 prisoners sick in Huntville's Wynne Unit

marler@marlerclark.com (Norovirus Lawyer) — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 13:06:53 -0800

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.

What is Norovirus?

marler@marlerclark.com (Norovirus Lawyer) — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 13:05:57 -0800

About Norovirus

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that noroviruses cause 23 million cases of acute gastroenteritis annually, making noroviruses the leading cause of gastroenteritis in the United States (CDC, 2006; Fankhauser, et al., 2002; Mead, et al., 1999).

Of viruses, only the common cold is reported more often than viral gastroenteritis (norovirus) (Benson & Merano, 1998).

Nature has created an ingenious bug in norovirus. The round blue ball structure of norovirus is actually a protein surrounding the virus’s genetic material. The virus attaches to the outside of cells lining the intestine, and then transfers its genetic material into those cells. Once the genetic material has been transferred, norovirus reproduces, finally killing the human cells and releasing new copies of itself that attach to more cells of the intestine’s lining.

Norovirus (previously called “Norwalk-like virus” or NLV) is a member of the family Caliciviridae. The name derives from the Latin for chilice—calyx—meaning cup-like, and refers to the indentations of the virus surface.

The family of Caliciviridae consists of several distinct groups of viruses that were first named after the places where outbreaks occurred. The first such outbreak occurred in 1968 among schoolchildren in Norwalk, Ohio (Glass, et al., 2000). The prototype strain was identified four years later, in 1972, and was the first virus identified that specifically caused gastroenteritis in humans (Glass, et al., 2000).

Other discoveries followed, with each strain name based on the location of its discovery-location, e.g., Montgomery County, Snow Mountain, Mexico, Hawaii, Parmatta, Taunton, and Toronto viruses. A study published in 1977 found that the Toronto virus was the second most common cause of gastroenteritis in children (Middleton, Szmanski & Petric, 1977).

Eventually this confusing nomenclature was rsolved, first in favor of calling each of the strains a Norwalk-like virus, and then simply, a norovirus – the term used today.
How is norovirus transmitted?

Noroviruses are transmitted primarily through the fecal-oral route, and fewer than 100 norovirus particles are said to be needed to cause infection (MMWR, 2001, June 1).
Transmission occurs either person-to-person or through contamination of food or water. Foodborne norovirus transmission can occur when food is contaminated by an infected food handler (Caceres, et al., 1998; MMWR, 2001, June 1).

Noroviruses are recognized as causing over half of all foodborne illness outbreaks. CDC statistics show that food is the most common vehicle of transmission for noroviruses; of 232 outbreaks of norovirus between July 1997 and June 2000, 57% were foodborne, 16% were spread from person-to-person, and 3% were waterborne (CDC, 2006, August 3).

The virus is shed in large numbers in the vomit and stool of infected individuals, most commonly while they are ill. Some individuals may, however, continue to shed norovirus long after they have recovered from the illness (Patterson, 1993). Aerosolized vomit has also been implicated as a mode of norovirus transmission (Marks, et al., 2000).

As noted by the CDC in its Final Trip Report, “noroviruses can cause extended outbreaks because of their high infectivity, persistence in the environment, resistance to common disinfectants, and difficulty in controlling their transmission through routine sanitary measures” (MMWR, 2001, June 1).

Norovirus Diagnosis

Diagnosis is often based on the combination of symptoms, particularly the prominence of vomiting, little fever, and the short duration of illness. If a known norovirus outbreak is in progress, public health officials may obtain specimens from ill individuals for testing in a lab.

Norovirus can be identified in a lab under an electron microscope. A reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction test (RT-PCR assay) also can detect norovirus in food, water, stool samples, and on surfaces. These tests isolate and replicate the suspected virus’ genetic material for analysis (Mayo Clinic, 2007).

Treatment for Norovirus Infection

No specific treatment is available for norovirus. In most healthy people, the illness usually is self-limiting and resolves in a few days.

Outbreaks among infants, children, elderly, and immunocompromised populations may result in severe complications among those affected. Death may result without prompt measures (Mayo Clinic, 2007, April 5).

The replacement of fluids and minerals such as sodium, potassium and calcium – otherwise known as electrolytes – lost due to persistent diarrhea is vital. This can be done either by drinking large amounts of liquids, or intravenously (Mayo Clinic, 2007, April 5).

Preventing Norovirus Infection

Common settings for norovirus outbreaks include restaurants and events with catered meals (36%), nursing homes (23%), schools (13%), and vacation settings or cruise ships (10%) (CDC, 2006, August 3). Proper hand washing is the best way to prevent the spread of norovirus.

The good news about norovirus is that it does not multiply in foods as many bacteria do. In addition, thorough cooking destroys this virus. To avoid norovirus, make sure the food you eat is cooked completely.

Shellfish (oysters, clams, mussels) pose the greatest risk and any particular serving may be contaminated with norovirus; there is no way to detect a contaminated oyster, clam, or mussel from a safe one. Shellfish become contaminated when their waters become contaminated (e.g. when raw sewage is dumped overboard by recreational and/or commercial boaters). Shellfish are filter feeders and will concentrate virus particles present in their environment. With shellfish, only complete cooking offers reliable protection; steaming does not kill the virus or prevent its transmission (Kirkland, et al., 1996).

Raw vegetables should be washed thoroughly before being served, and travelers should drink only boiled drinks or carbonated bottled beverages without ice when in areas that have polluted water sources.

Immunity to calciviruses is not permanent and re-infection can occur. Infection may also spread from person-to-person. So, if you or another household member suffer a bout of gastroenteritis, be absolutely sure to wash hands with soap and warm water after toilet visits, before preparing or eating food, and after caring for the sick. Exclude persons with gastroenteritis from the kitchen, and always dispose of sewage in a sanitary manner.

Recently, outbreaks of norovirus have become synonymous with cruise ships (CDC, 2006, August 3; MMWR Weekly, 2002, December 13). Healthcare facilities also experience a high incidence of norovirus outbreaks. The CDC has published information regarding the prevention of norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships and in healthcare facilities on its website (CDC, 2006, December 21; CDC, 2007).

Outbreaks

    * Bravo! Cucina Italiano Norovirus Outbreak
    * Campylobacter Outbreak - Washington State Penitentiary
    * Carrabba’s Restaurant Norovirus Outbreak
    * Las Vegas Flamingo Norovirus Outbreak
    * Michigan Blimpie’s Norovirus Outbreak
    * Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel Norovirus Outbreak
    * Si Casa Flores Norovirus Outbreak

References

Benson V, Merano MA. (1998). Current estimates from the National Health Interview Survey 1995. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital Health Stat 10. 1998;(199).
Cáceres VM, Kim DK, Bresee JS, Horan J, Noel JS, Ando T, Steed CJ, Weems JJ, Monroe SS, and Gibson JJ. (1998). A viral gastroenteritis outbreak associated with person-to-person spread among hospital staff. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 19(3):162-7.
CDC. (2006, August 3). Norovirus: Technical Fact Sheet. Retrieved August 14, 2007 from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site, http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/revb/gastro/norovirus-factsheet.htm.
CDC. (2006, December 21). Norovirus in Healthcare Facilities Fact Sheet. Retrieved August 15, 2007 from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site, http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/id_norovirusFS.html.
CDC. 2007. Facts about Norovirus on Cruise Ships. Retrieved August 15, 2007 from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site, http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/pub/Norovirus/Norovirus.htm.
Fankhauser RL, Monroe SS, Noel JS, Humphrey CD, Bresee JS, Parashar UD, Ando T, and Glass RI. (2002). Epidemiologic and molecular trends of ‘Norwalk-like viruses’ associated with outbreaks of gastroenteritis in the United States. J. Infect. Dis. 186(1):1-7.
Glass RI, Noel J, Ando T, Fankhauser R, Belliot G, Mounts A, Parashar UD, Bresee JS, and Monroe SS. (2000). The Epidemiology of Enteric Calciviruses from Humans: A Reassessment Using New Diagnostics. J. Infect. Dis. 181(Suppl 2):S254-61.
Kirkland KB, Meriwether RA, Leiss JK, and MacKenzie WR. (1996). Steaming oysters does not prevent Norwalk-like gastroenteritis. Public Health Rep. 111:527-30.
Marks PJ, Vipond IB, Carlisle D, Deakin D, Fey RE, and Caul EO. (2000). Evidence of airborne transmission of Norwalk-like virus (NLV) in a hotel restaurant. Epidemiol. Infect. 124(3):481-87
Mayo Clinic. (2007, April 5). Norovirus. Retrieved August 15, 2007 from Mayo Clinic Web site: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/norovirus/DS00942/DSECTION=1.
Mead PS, Slutsker L, Dietz V, McCaig LF, Bresee JS, Shapiro C, Griffin PM, and Tauxe Rv. (1999). Food-related illness and death in the United States. Emerg Infect Dis 5:607-25.
Middleton PJ, Szmanski MT, and Petric M. (1977). Viruses associated with acute gastroenteritis in young children. Am J Dis Child. 131:733.
MMWR Weekly. (2002). Outbreaks of Gastroenteritis Associated with Noroviruses on Cruise Ships – United States, 2002. December 13, 2002 / 51(49);1112-1115. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
MMWR Weekly. (2001). ‘Norwalk-like viruses’—Public health consequences and outbreak management. June 1, 2001 / 50:1-18. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Patterson T, Hutchin P, and Palmer S. (1993). Outbreak of SRSV gastroenteritis at an international conference traced to food handled by a post symptomatic caterer. Epidemiol Infect. 111:157-162.

62 Likely Victims Of Norovirus At Oklahoma's Grand Lake

marler@marlerclark.com (Norovirus Lawyer) — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 16:57:34 -0800

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.

More Than 200 Down With Norovirus In New York State

marler@marlerclark.com (Norovirus Lawyer) — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 20:10:00 -0800

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.

"Norovirus" Makes It Into Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary

marler@marlerclark.com (Norovirus Lawyer) — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 15:34:29 -0800

The word "Norovirus" has been added to the new Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary. Its one of about 100 "new" words recognized by the folks at Merriam-Webster.

Norovirus, according to Merriam-Webster, is any of a genus of small round single-stranded RNA viruses: specifically, the Norwalk Virus.

Merriam-Werbster added 100 new words this year, some reflect current events, like "dirty bomb" and "Norovirus." Others define new technology or products, such as "infinity pool." That's an outdoor pool with an edge designed to make water appear to flow into the horizon.

Probably won't be long before Norovirus is accepted as a correctly spelled word on your computer!

Campers Are Not Feeling Good At YMCA of Rockies

marler@marlerclark.com (Norovirus Lawyer) — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 07:12:50 -0800

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.

Sounds Like Norovirus At Madison SciFi Convention

marler@marlerclark.com (Norovirus Lawyer) — Fri, 30 May 2008 12:01:29 -0800

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.

4,000 In Turkey Recovering From Norovirus Outbreak

marler@marlerclark.com (Norovirus Lawyer) — Thu, 22 May 2008 10:43:02 -0800

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.

Norovirus Hits Salem Mission: At Least 20 Are Sick

marler@marlerclark.com (Norovirus Lawyer) — Thu, 15 May 2008 14:10:48 -0800

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.

More Than 70 Catch Norovirus At JavaOne

marler@marlerclark.com (Norovirus Lawyer) — Sat, 10 May 2008 11:35:13 -0800

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.

Was Food Contaminated At Chipotle Or Before It Got There?

marler@marlerclark.com (Norovirus Lawyer) — Mon, 05 May 2008 19:05:18 -0800

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