Norovirus continues to spread / Govt body calls for special measures to be taken to halt epidemic
The Yomiuri Shimbun
The recent nationwide epidemic of gastroenteritis caused by the norovirus continues to spread, health authorities warn.
In Kamikawacho, Hokkaido, the virus was found in a kitchen at the Sounkyo Kanko Hotel after 177 guests and staff members complained of symptoms such as nausea and diarrhea in early December, the Hokkaido Kamikawa Public Health Center said Saturday.
The center suspected the poisoning was caused by the virus, and ordered the kitchen to close for five days from Saturday. The hotel has voluntarily refrained from operating since Dec. 11.
According to the center, the infected people include 167 hotel guests aged between 30 and 80. Of those infected, 161 were from Hokkaido and six from Okayama Prefecture. In addition, 10 kitchen workers were infected. On the night of Dec. 5, people complained they felt sick, although their symptoms were said to have been minor.
In Osaka Prefecture, 136 people contracted food poisoning after eating packed lunches made by a firm based in Yao. The norovirus has been detected in 22 of the people, the Osaka prefectural government said Saturday.
The people were said to be not seriously ill, and their condition was improving. The government ordered the company to close for six days from Sunday.
Meanwhile in Odate, Akita Prefecture, 374 students and teachers at eight primary and middle schools developed acute gastroenteritis. The norovirus was detected in 14 of them, it was learned Saturday.
According to the Akita prefectural government, the food poisoning outbreak was believed to have been caused by the norovirus.
Students and teachers had complained of several symptoms of gastroenteritis, such as diarrhea. None of the students of staff needed to be hospitalized and all are said to be recovering.
The government said it was examining two places in the city where school meals are prepared for the eight schools. Results of the investigation are due as early as Tuesday.
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Avoiding the virus
The norovirus is mainly found in the feces and vomit of infected people as well as in raw oysters, according to the National Institute of Infectious Diseases.
After an incubation period of one to two days, infected people exhibit symptoms such as nausea, diarrhea and abdominal pains. Most people show an improvement in their condition after one or two days, and some people with the virus do not exhibit any symptoms.
However, after the symptoms disappear, most infected people remain infectious for a week, although some remain infectious for up to three months.
The disease is untreatable, so some at-risk patients are hospitalized, with many put on a drip. It has been found that antidiarrheal medication is only helpful in some circumstances and can delay recovery. It is important for babies and the elderly to drink enough water and eat well to prevent dehydration caused by diarrhea.
Although some people died after they became infected by the virus, it is unclear if the virus directly led their deaths.
The best way to prevent the spread of the disease is to wash hands well with soap after going to the toilet, before handling food and soon after reentering the home.
Vomit and excrement of people suffering from the disease must be cleaned up with paper towels and the infected area wiped with chlorine bleach. Cleaning should be done quickly because if allowed to dry the secretions can become airborne, resulting in the virus being inhaled. Diapers and paper towels used for cleaning should be sealed in plastic bags and safely disposed of.
After infected people use items or touch surfaces, they must be quickly sanitized.
To kill the virus in shellfish and oysters, it is necessary to heat them at more than 85 C for more than one minute.
(Dec. 18, 2006)
The Yomiuri Shimbun
The recent nationwide epidemic of gastroenteritis caused by the norovirus continues to spread, health authorities warn.
In Kamikawacho, Hokkaido, the virus was found in a kitchen at the Sounkyo Kanko Hotel after 177 guests and staff members complained of symptoms such as nausea and diarrhea in early December, the Hokkaido Kamikawa Public Health Center said Saturday.
The center suspected the poisoning was caused by the virus, and ordered the kitchen to close for five days from Saturday. The hotel has voluntarily refrained from operating since Dec. 11.
According to the center, the infected people include 167 hotel guests aged between 30 and 80. Of those infected, 161 were from Hokkaido and six from Okayama Prefecture. In addition, 10 kitchen workers were infected. On the night of Dec. 5, people complained they felt sick, although their symptoms were said to have been minor.
In Osaka Prefecture, 136 people contracted food poisoning after eating packed lunches made by a firm based in Yao. The norovirus has been detected in 22 of the people, the Osaka prefectural government said Saturday.
The people were said to be not seriously ill, and their condition was improving. The government ordered the company to close for six days from Sunday.
Meanwhile in Odate, Akita Prefecture, 374 students and teachers at eight primary and middle schools developed acute gastroenteritis. The norovirus was detected in 14 of them, it was learned Saturday.
According to the Akita prefectural government, the food poisoning outbreak was believed to have been caused by the norovirus.
Students and teachers had complained of several symptoms of gastroenteritis, such as diarrhea. None of the students of staff needed to be hospitalized and all are said to be recovering.
The government said it was examining two places in the city where school meals are prepared for the eight schools. Results of the investigation are due as early as Tuesday.
===
Avoiding the virus
The norovirus is mainly found in the feces and vomit of infected people as well as in raw oysters, according to the National Institute of Infectious Diseases.
After an incubation period of one to two days, infected people exhibit symptoms such as nausea, diarrhea and abdominal pains. Most people show an improvement in their condition after one or two days, and some people with the virus do not exhibit any symptoms.
However, after the symptoms disappear, most infected people remain infectious for a week, although some remain infectious for up to three months.
The disease is untreatable, so some at-risk patients are hospitalized, with many put on a drip. It has been found that antidiarrheal medication is only helpful in some circumstances and can delay recovery. It is important for babies and the elderly to drink enough water and eat well to prevent dehydration caused by diarrhea.
Although some people died after they became infected by the virus, it is unclear if the virus directly led their deaths.
The best way to prevent the spread of the disease is to wash hands well with soap after going to the toilet, before handling food and soon after reentering the home.
Vomit and excrement of people suffering from the disease must be cleaned up with paper towels and the infected area wiped with chlorine bleach. Cleaning should be done quickly because if allowed to dry the secretions can become airborne, resulting in the virus being inhaled. Diapers and paper towels used for cleaning should be sealed in plastic bags and safely disposed of.
After infected people use items or touch surfaces, they must be quickly sanitized.
To kill the virus in shellfish and oysters, it is necessary to heat them at more than 85 C for more than one minute.
(Dec. 18, 2006)
