Florida - Department of Health urges Floridians to be Aware of Gastrointestinal Illnesses

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Norovirus Spreads Through Two Retirement Communities

<small>by Nadeen Yanes &#183; Feb 24th 2010 &#183; See more Local News</small>
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The Atrium retirement community has been able to control the virus and were able to go back to business as usual, however Oak Hammock CEO, Catherine Ferguson says they are still working to get the Norovirus contained.

"We've taken precautions to contain the spread of the illness in the nursing facility and in the assistant living area and we've done very well with restricting visitors from coming in," said Ferguson.

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http://www.wcjb.com/news/6214/norovirus-spreads-through-two-retirement-communities

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Re: Florida - Norovirus Spreads Through Two Retirement Communities

Department of Health urges Floridians to be Aware of Gastrointestinal Illnesses
03/09/10 - 11:32 AM

Florida Department of Health


Tallahassee, Fla:

<!-- end article dateline --><!-- article body -->The Florida Department of Health (DOH) wants Florida?s residents and visitors to be aware of the symptoms of and take precautions to prevent contracting gastrointestinal illness. The currently circulating gastrointestinal illness is attributed to a virus called norovirus. Norovirus is very contagious and can be transmitted person to person, as well as through contaminated water, food or surfaces.

During January and February 2010, 61 clusters of gastrointestinal illness attributable to norovirus have been identified, as compared to 47 clusters during the same two months of 2009. There have been recent reports of norovirus and gastrointestinal illness clusters in schools, assisted living facilities, long-term care facilities, and correctional facilities.

?This is the time of year when norovirus often spreads around our communities,? said Ana M. Viamonte Ros, M.D., M.P.H., ?Frequent hand-washing, especially before preparing food and after using the toilet or changing a child?s diaper, is the most effective means of preventing the spread of norovirus and other communicable diseases. Other important preventive measures include practicing proper food handling and preparation methods and disinfecting surfaces.?

Norovirus may cause gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach cramping. Sometimes people may also have a low-grade fever, chills, muscle aches, headache, and an overall feeling of being tired. For most people, the symptoms only last for 24 to 48 hours.

While there is no treatment for norovirus, it is recommended that infected persons get plenty of rest and consume extra liquids to avoid dehydration. People with symptoms of norovirus should stay home while ill to avoid the spread of the virus. In addition, people who are infected with norovirus should not prepare food for others or work in sensitive environments like child care, school, food service, or health care facilities while they have symptoms and for at least three days after they have recovered.

Per Florida Administrative Code 64D-3, outbreaks or clusters of illness are reportable to the local county health department. For more information about norovirus, visit http://www.doh.state.fl.us/Disease_c...diseases.htm#N or www.cdc.gov or call your local county health department. A complete list of county health departments and contact information can be found at http://www.doh.state.fl.us/chdsitelist.htm.

DOH promotes, protects, and improves the health of all people in Florida.



http://www.panhandleparade.com/index.php/mbb/article/department_of_health_urges_floridians_to_be_aware_ of_gastrointestinal_illne/mbb7721868/#ixzz0hhmBD4N7

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Re: Florida - Department of Health urges Floridians to be Aware of Gastrointestinal Illnesses

Two more Collier nursing homes have virus outbreak

By LIZ FREEMAN
Published Tuesday, March 9, 2010

COLLIER COUNTY — Two more nursing homes in Collier County are experiencing an outbreak of Norwalk virus illness among residents, part of a trend statewide where public health officials have reported 61 cluster cases around the state.

One of the two nursing homes in Naples may be cleared for new admissions today after being symptom free since Sunday. The other facility reported on March 4 that residents were ill, said Deb Millsap, spokeswoman for the Collier County Health Department. Admissions are prohibited at the second nursing home during the investigation and until residents are symptom free for 72 hours.

The department is still waiting for test results from the second facility and doesn’t have a full count of how many residents have been ill, she said.

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Connect with health-care reporter Liz Freeman at www.naplesnews.com/staff/liz_freeman

http://m.naplesnews.com/news/2010/mar/09/two-more-collier-nursing-homes-have-virus-outbreak/

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Re: Florida - Department of Health urges Floridians to be Aware of Gastrointestinal Illnesses

Two Broward homeless shelters under isolation after apparent norovirus outbreak

By Rachel Hatzipanagos, Sun Sentinel
2:22 p.m. EST, March 11, 2010

Two Broward County shelters have had to keep some clients under isolation after an apparent norovirus outbreak.

The 50 people reportedly inflicted with the virus starting experiencing diarrhea, vomiting, and slight fevers on Tuesday.

About 45 clients and employees are under quarantine at the Cosac Homeless Assistance Center in Hollywood. Another five clients are in isolation at Hollywood's Broward Outreach Center.


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More at:

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/broward/hollywood/fl-broward-health-virus-20100311,0,5386664.story

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Re: Florida - Department of Health urges Floridians to be Aware of Gastrointestinal Illnesses

Posted on Friday, 03.12.10
Norovirus strikes at least 80 Broward residents

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Sean Cononie, right, the Director of the Cosac Foundation, talks about the quarantine of his homeless shelter after an apparent Norovirus outbreak. MICHAEL LAUGHLIN/SUN SENTINEL

By LINDA TRISCHITTA, SOFIA SANTAN AND RACHEL HATZIPANAGOS
SUN SENTINEL

<!-- end /production/story/credit_line_format.comp -->POMPANO BEACH - A flu being blamed on the norovirus has felled at least 80 people in Broward County this week, following a recent outbreak in Palm Beach County.

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He said the outbreak was "not normal" for the facility.
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Full text at:

http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/03/12/1526217/norovirus-strikes-at-least-80.html

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Re: Florida - Department of Health urges Floridians to be Aware of Gastrointestinal Illnesses

Norovirus quarantine lifted at Hollywood homeless shelter

By Alexia Campbell, Sun Sentinel
6:37 p.m. EDT, March 15, 2010

A Hollywood homeless shelter has lifted a quarantine on dozens of clients and employees who were stricken last week with an illness blamed on the norovirus.

The Cosac Homeless Assistance Center lifted the quarantine Saturday night, said Sean Cononie, the center's director. However, one sick person is still being isolated from others at the center, he said.

"It's winding down," Cononie said Monday.

A reported norovirus outbreak infected at least 71 people at the Cosac Center, another Hollywood homeless shelter and a retirement community in Pompano Beach.

Some local hospitals have seen a rise in patients coming in with stomach upsets and dehydration from norovirus, emergency room officials said Monday. Few of the cases have been severe, but dehydration can cause brief complications, especially for seniors, the sick and babies, officials said.

The emergency room at Broward General Medical Center has been treating three or four norovirus patients a day, out of a total of 300 to 400 patients, said Dr. Nabil El Sanadi, director of emergency services for Broward Health.
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Full article at:

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/broward/hollywood/fl-broward-health-virus-folo-20100315,0,1093411.story

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Re: Florida - Department of Health urges Floridians to be Aware of Gastrointestinal Illnesses

Norovirus 'stomach flu' hits Palm Beach County nursing home and around the area

ByAllison Ross
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
<SCRIPT type=text/javascript>/* <![CDATA[ */jQuery('.authorContact').click(function() {var emailLink = jQuery(this).attr('href');popupWin(emailLink, '', '', 'false', 'false', 'false', 'false', 'false', 'true');});/* ]]> */</SCRIPT>Posted: 5:25 p.m. Friday, March 19, 2010

BOCA RATON ? Outbreaks of norovirus are being reported throughout Palm Beach County and around the state, according to health officials.

Norovirus, commonly known as a "stomach flu," is associated with vomiting, diarrhea, nausea and stomach cramping, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Despite the name, it is not associated with the regular flu, which is caused by the influenza virus.

"Norovirus is popping up all over the state," said Timothy O'Connor, a spokesman for the Palm Beach County Health Department. "We had a number of reports in Palm Beach County last month and just this week we have had a couple of adult living facilities in south county reporting a number of cases. This is something we see in congregate living facilities fairly often."

Indeed, the Classic Residence by Hyatt assisted and independent living facility in Boca Raton said it started noticing norovirus symptoms in some community members last Tuesday. The facility called in the outbreak to the county health department and implemented protocols to safeguard residents.

"We haven't had an outbreak like this in three years," said executive director Margie Longstreth. "It's everywhere. It's very very contagious."

She said that Classic Residence shut down the dining hall and instead gave room service to all its guests. "The residents are so social, and they're getting so bored, but I don't want them to get sick," Longstreth said, adding that the facility hasn't seen any symptoms in the last couple days.
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More at:

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/money/norovirus-stomach-flu-hits-palm-beach-county-nursing-401311.html

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Re: Florida - Department of Health urges Floridians to be Aware of Gastrointestinal Illnesses

Norovirus hits Florida, region hard

'Stomach flu' outbreaks on rise

BY FRANK GLUCK
March 22, 2010

1:10 A.M. ?

Sicknesses common to nursing homes and cruise ships jumped 50 percent this year throughout Florida, public health officials say, including more than a dozen outbreaks in Lee and Collier counties.

Since December, Lee County has seen five outbreaks of norovirus, which is nonfatal but can cause nausea and diarrhea, said Dr. Robert South, epidemiologist with the county Health Department.

This time last year, three outbreaks had been reported in Lee.

The 100 or so individual cases here were found at one public school and four nursing homes, the health department said.
Norovirus is commonly spread in the winter months, but public health officials are not sure why this year's numbers increased so dramatically.

It is most likely just a random occurrence, South said.

"There's no particular reason," he said. "It's just a variation of the cycle."

Collier County has had up to 90 cases this year, all in nine nursing homes, said Deb Millsap, Health Department spokeswoman.

So far, the state Health Department has tracked 91 outbreaks statewide, compared with 47 this time last year.
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More at:

http://www.news-press.com/article/20100322/HEALTH/3220345/1075/Norovirus-hits-Florida--region-hard

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Re: Florida - Department of Health urges Floridians to be Aware of Gastrointestinal Illnesses

Norovirus: Hillsborough County schools bracing for impact

<table><tbody><tr valign="top"><td>Reported by: Ty Wilson
Email: kwilson@wfts.com
Last Update: 4/19 10:47 pm
</td></tr></tbody></table>

TAMPA, FL -- Students in Hillsborough County returned from spring break Monday, but health officials worry there may be a health concern for all 188,000 of them.

Linda Cobbe, spokesperson for Hillsborough County schools said Monday it is typical because kids travel and go on vacation so we see an uptick in viruses.

School officials say they are most worried about the norovirus.

more................

http://www.abcactionnews.com/content/news/local/hillsborough/story/Norovirus-Hillsborough-County-schools-bracing-for/hx-UcLVR-Em3C3PjhzKr3Q.cspx