California - Norovirus cases 2012

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Re: California - Norovirus cases 2012

Contagious norovirus ends semester early at Dunn

After classes canceled twice, private school in Los Olivos takes long winter break

7 hours ago ? By Julian J. Ramos / Staff Writer / jramos@santamariatimes.com

Classes are expected to resume early next year at Dunn School after an outbreak of a highly contagious stomach virus led to the shutdown of the Los Olivos campus for the second time in less than a month.
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About 30 faculty and staff members ? no students ? reported falling ill after a Nov. 26 teacher in-service day, said Aaron Dorlarque, associate head of school.

The school closed from Nov. 27 to Nov. 30 and classes resumed Dec. 3, but ?several likely cases among students? at the high school campus were reported and a decision was made to close the school to stop the spread, Dorlarque said.
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School officials are unsure if the virus spread through food, Dorlarque said.

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Re: California - Norovirus cases 2012

December 2012

Norovirus activity in the County of San Luis Obispo

After a relatively quiet summer, the SLO Public Health Laboratory has detected Norovirus in three separate outbreaks in the past ten days using reverse transcription PCR testing of stool specimens Two outbreaks were associated with restaurants; a third occurred in a long‐term care facility.

All three outbreaks were caused by a genetic group or genogroup of Norovirus called GII. Sequencing of the genomic RNA of these strains is proceeding at the state laboratory.

Of recent interest is the documented spread of a GII strain from Australia to many other nations in the past few years. Like influenza virus, the emergence of a new strain of Norovirus is accompanied by increased numbers of cases and outbreaks, with subsequent spread in pandemic fashion of the new strain world‐wide, displacing other strains and infecting immunologically na?ve populations.

Noroviruses are the primary cause of epidemic viral gastroenteritis and the leading cause of foodborne outbreaks in the United States. Although Norovirus outbreaks occur year-round, they are more common during the winter months. Norovirus is highly contagious, with as few as 20 virus particles sufficient to initiate infection and enormous numbers of virus particles shed in stool ‐‐‐ detectable by current PCR methods for up to a month after illness.

Norovirus is a member of a large group of RNA viruses called Caliciviruses, among which are other gastroenteritis agents, such as Sapoviruses. As an RNA virus, Norovirus replicates its genome using an RNA polymerase that often make ?mistakes?, substituting an unmatched nucleotide, increasing the probability of emergence of a new strain. Infection can be transmitted by contact with an infected person, by consuming contaminated food or water, or by contact with contaminated surfaces or objects. The virus spreads rapidly in closed environments such as hospitals, schools, nursing and residential homes. Noteworthy are the outbreaks that have been reported for cruise ships. Symptoms include a sudden onset of vomiting and/or diarrhea. Some people may have a temperature, headache, and stomach cramps. The illness usually resolves in one or two days and there are no long‐term effects. Although the course of disease is usually self-limited, the young, the elderly and immunocompromised persons are at risk for complications caused by severe vomiting and diarrhea and deaths have been reported.

http://www.slocounty.ca.gov/Assets/...senger)+2012/SLO+PHL+Messenger+12-15-2012.pdf

 

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Re: California - Norovirus cases 2012

New strain of norovirus hits SLO County
SB County hasn?t been affected so far

8 hours ago ? By Samantha Yale Scroggin / Staff Writer / sscroggin@lompocrecord.com

A new strain of norovirus, an illness that afflicts sufferers with nausea, vomiting and other symptoms, has hit the Central Coast but so far not Santa Barbara County.

Within the past month, at least three outbreaks of the new strain of norovirus have occurred in San Luis Obispo County, according to the Public Health Department there.

Santa Barbara County has suffered its typical seasonal outbreaks of the virus, officials said, but the strain is not believed to have been part of the virus strain from Australia that has affected SLO County.

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