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Bug hits nursing homes
<!--subtitle--><!--byline-->By LARRY MITCHELL-Staff Writer
<!--date-->Posted: 03/17/2010 12:09:20 AM PDT
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OROVILLE ? Several nursing homes have had to take special precautions lately because of viral illnesses affecting residents.
"There are a lot of things circulating that are causing people to get sick," Kiyomi Bird, a public-health nurse and manager of the Butte County Public Health Department's communicable disease program, said Tuesday.
What's being seen mainly are stomach symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, she said. Some cases of fever and respiratory infection have appeared, as well.
When increased numbers of residents become ill, nursing homes are required to notify the county Public Health Department.
Bird said such notifications have come from several local nursing homes and that public-health nurses are working with them to try to control the outbreaks of illness.
Specimens have been taken to try to determine just what viruses are involved, she said.
It's not believed that influenza is implicated, she added. "We haven't had a confirmed influenza case since January."
At this time of year, it's pretty common for the county's communicable disease program to work with local nursing homes on cases like this, she said.
Reportedly, at least one facility in Oroville and one in Chico temporarily stopped allowing visitors because of the outbreaks of illness.
<!--subtitle--><!--byline-->By LARRY MITCHELL-Staff Writer
<!--date-->Posted: 03/17/2010 12:09:20 AM PDT
<!--secondary date-->
OROVILLE ? Several nursing homes have had to take special precautions lately because of viral illnesses affecting residents.
"There are a lot of things circulating that are causing people to get sick," Kiyomi Bird, a public-health nurse and manager of the Butte County Public Health Department's communicable disease program, said Tuesday.
What's being seen mainly are stomach symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, she said. Some cases of fever and respiratory infection have appeared, as well.
When increased numbers of residents become ill, nursing homes are required to notify the county Public Health Department.
Bird said such notifications have come from several local nursing homes and that public-health nurses are working with them to try to control the outbreaks of illness.
Specimens have been taken to try to determine just what viruses are involved, she said.
It's not believed that influenza is implicated, she added. "We haven't had a confirmed influenza case since January."
At this time of year, it's pretty common for the county's communicable disease program to work with local nursing homes on cases like this, she said.
Reportedly, at least one facility in Oroville and one in Chico temporarily stopped allowing visitors because of the outbreaks of illness.
