Ontario, Canada - Norovirus cases

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Norovirus sweeps through city jail

Local News
By SUSAN GAMBLE
Updated 13 minutes ago

There's been an outbreak of a gastrointestinal infection at Brantford jail, and it's been playing havoc with the court system.

Many prisoners were quarantined to their areas. Those who were supposed to be appearing in court Thursday had matters adjourned or, in some cases, dealt with either by speaker phone from the court, or by a video-conferencing

The Brant County Health Unit confirmed that a Norwalk- type virus had been diagnosed at the facility where numerous inmates and staff had reported the same type of symptoms: nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

"We've been in regular communication with the jail since this gastrointestinal illness was reported on Dec. 13," said Jill Fediurek, manager of infectious diseases for the health unit.

"The illness didn't happen suddenly, so we don't believe it has anything to do with food or water. Everything fits into the category of a norovirus (Norwalk- like virus)."

Fediurek said confirmation lab tests have not been done since there's a clear protocol of handling such infections.

More...

http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2894196

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Re: Ontario - Norovirus cases

Virus outbreak at city jail under control

Local News
By SUSAN GAMBLE
Posted 6 hours ago


Excerpt:

A gastrointestinal outbreak at the Brantford jail is being tempered with time and good hygiene.
...

Public visits to the jail have been cancelled until further notice and no new prisoners are being accepted.

Signs have been posted at the jail entrances to notify the public and staff about the virus.

Brown said the number of ailing inmates and staff has dropped to six from 28.

To limit the spread of the outbreak, many prisoners who were due in court this week made appearances via a video-conferencing system or had their matters adjourned.

Full text:

http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2896027

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Re: Ontario, Canada - Norovirus cases

Danielle Wong
Sat Dec 18 2010

40 more ill in deli flu outbreak

Hamilton public health received 40 calls Friday from people who were sick after eating food from the downtown Druxy?s Famous Deli Sandwiches earlier this week.

All of them ate food from the deli on Tuesday or Wednesday and showed a similar range of symptoms to the 33 people who became sick with gastrointestinal illness or stomach flu at a corporate event catered by Druxy?s Tuesday, said Dr. Chris Mackie, one of the city?s associate medical officers of health.

The symptoms include nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, he said.

?The reassuring thing is we?re finding people who developed the illness as early as Tuesday and are now beginning to resolve. It?s likely something like a Norovirus,? Mackie said, adding this type of virus is not serious and comes on within 24 hours and resolves within another 24 hours.

Public health temporarily closed the deli at Jackson Square Thursday afternoon after they suspected two ill employees serving at a corporate Christmas party contaminated the food.

Read more:

http://www.thespec.com/news/local/article/302974--40-more-ill-in-deli-flu-outbreak