tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
WOODSTOCK ? An outbreak of norovirus has been reported after 129 people became ill in three long-term care facilities, according to the McHenry County Department of Health.
Fourteen cases of norovirus, which is highly contagious, have been confirmed, and five people have been hospitalized.
Health department spokeswoman Debra Quackenbush declined to release the names of the facilities where the virus was found, but said that their administrators were cooperating and taking steps to prevent it from spreading.
Unlike influenza, which is an upper respiratory virus, norovirus generally is the culprit that causes what is referred to as ?stomach flu.? It affects the intestinal tract and causes nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Symptoms usually last between 24 and 48 hours.
Norovirus is common but can be fatal in rare cases, particularly when the person has a compromised immune system, Quackenbush said. The illness, which easily transfers from person to person, cannot be treated with antibiotics.
The last norovirus outbreak was in January 2009 and involved five long-term care facilities. There were 20 confirmed cases and 129 people ill, Quackenbush said. Ten people were hospitalized, but there were no fatalities.
To prevent the spread of the norovirus, the MCDH recommends:
? Frequent hand washing, especially after using the toilet and before eating and preparing food.
? Thorough cleaning and disinfecting of high-touch areas, such as phones, railings and tables, and using bleach-based household disinfectants.
? Immediately removing and washing clothing or linens that might be contaminated with diarrhea or vomit by using hot water and soap.
http://www.nwherald.com/2010/11/22/norovirus-hits-129-in-long-term-care/awtlax9/
Fourteen cases of norovirus, which is highly contagious, have been confirmed, and five people have been hospitalized.
Health department spokeswoman Debra Quackenbush declined to release the names of the facilities where the virus was found, but said that their administrators were cooperating and taking steps to prevent it from spreading.
Unlike influenza, which is an upper respiratory virus, norovirus generally is the culprit that causes what is referred to as ?stomach flu.? It affects the intestinal tract and causes nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Symptoms usually last between 24 and 48 hours.
Norovirus is common but can be fatal in rare cases, particularly when the person has a compromised immune system, Quackenbush said. The illness, which easily transfers from person to person, cannot be treated with antibiotics.
The last norovirus outbreak was in January 2009 and involved five long-term care facilities. There were 20 confirmed cases and 129 people ill, Quackenbush said. Ten people were hospitalized, but there were no fatalities.
To prevent the spread of the norovirus, the MCDH recommends:
? Frequent hand washing, especially after using the toilet and before eating and preparing food.
? Thorough cleaning and disinfecting of high-touch areas, such as phones, railings and tables, and using bleach-based household disinfectants.
? Immediately removing and washing clothing or linens that might be contaminated with diarrhea or vomit by using hot water and soap.
http://www.nwherald.com/2010/11/22/norovirus-hits-129-in-long-term-care/awtlax9/
