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Rhode Island - Health Department reports rise in norovirus cases
By Scott Allen | News Editor
Published: February 24, 2010
Updated: February 24, 2010
Rhode Island health officials are seeing a rise in the number of cases of a common virus, and they?re especially concerned for the elderly and young children.
Norovirus is a common illness, and like H1N1 your best defense is washing your hands.
St. George?s Boarding School in Middletown was shut down because of a norovirus outbreak for a week when dozens of students and faculty there became sick.
?Norovirus is something that will make people feel ? similar to what you might call the stomach flu. You have very quick onset of vomiting and diarrhea. It usually resolves very quickly,? said Annemarie Beardsworth, spokeswoman for the Rhode Island Department of Health.
For most healthy people, the norovirus is nothing more than a nuisance that lasts up to two days.
?But for the elderly, the very young, or for people who have a weakened immune system, this could land them in the hospital,? Beardsworth said.
Washing your hands or using alcohol gels on a regular basis can help stop the spread.
?Norovirus is transmitted hand to mouth, so that means you touch something that?s contaminated with the virus or someone who doesn?t wash their hands after they go to the bathroom or get sick to their stomach,? Beardsworth said.
That?s why hand washing is so important in stopping its spread.
If you?re a food handler, a day-care or health-care worker with symptoms, report the illness to your employer and stay out of work until 48 hours after symptoms have stopped.
By Scott Allen | News Editor
Published: February 24, 2010
Updated: February 24, 2010
Rhode Island health officials are seeing a rise in the number of cases of a common virus, and they?re especially concerned for the elderly and young children.
Norovirus is a common illness, and like H1N1 your best defense is washing your hands.
St. George?s Boarding School in Middletown was shut down because of a norovirus outbreak for a week when dozens of students and faculty there became sick.
?Norovirus is something that will make people feel ? similar to what you might call the stomach flu. You have very quick onset of vomiting and diarrhea. It usually resolves very quickly,? said Annemarie Beardsworth, spokeswoman for the Rhode Island Department of Health.
For most healthy people, the norovirus is nothing more than a nuisance that lasts up to two days.
?But for the elderly, the very young, or for people who have a weakened immune system, this could land them in the hospital,? Beardsworth said.
Washing your hands or using alcohol gels on a regular basis can help stop the spread.
?Norovirus is transmitted hand to mouth, so that means you touch something that?s contaminated with the virus or someone who doesn?t wash their hands after they go to the bathroom or get sick to their stomach,? Beardsworth said.
That?s why hand washing is so important in stopping its spread.
If you?re a food handler, a day-care or health-care worker with symptoms, report the illness to your employer and stay out of work until 48 hours after symptoms have stopped.
