North Carolina - Norovirus cases 2012

[Pathfinder]

Norovirus outbreak reported in Pitt County

By: WNCT Staff | WNCT
Published: January 26, 2012

GREENVILLE, N.C. - The Health Department says there's a norovirus outbreak in Pitt County.
...
It's been confirmed in at least one facility in the county and is now investigating reports from other facilities.

The NC Division of Public Health also says there has been numerous norovirus outbreaks recently across the state.

More...
http://www2.wnct.com/news/2012/jan/26/norovirus-outbreak-reported-pitt-county-ar-1861002/

 

[Pathfinder]

Re: North Carolina - Norovirus cases 2012

Updated: 9:37 AM Jan 27, 2012

UPDATE: Symptoms "Consistent With Norovirus" At Several Pitt Co. Schools ​

Officials at Pitt County Schools say they are working with the Pitt County Health Department after several schools have reported students sick with symptoms consistent with norovirus.

School officials say the health department does not plan to do any testing to confirm whether this is the same norovirus strain. Nurses in the school system have been in contact with the Pitt County Health Department.
<!-- $cms.websiteSection.disableStory -->Norovirus has been tested for and confirmed at a living facility in Pitt County.

Several schools have reported a spike in absences this week, officials said, but it's not possible to tell if all of those students were out of school because of the "stomach flu."

School officials say the custodians are continuing to clean the schools in the same way they've been trained to do. Officials are encouraging people to wash their hands, especially after using the bathroom and before eating.

http://www.witn.com/pittcounty/head...firmed_At_Pitt_County_Facility_138175654.html

 

[Pathfinder]

Re: North Carolina - Norovirus cases 2012

For Release: January 27, 2012 4:00 p.m.

NOROVIRUS LINKED TO RECENT REPORTS OF ILLNESS IN CATAWBA COUNTY HICKORY, NC ?

Catawba County Public Health has received confirmation that norovirus is linked to illness reported by people who ate at Harbor Inn Seafood Restaurant in Conover. Norovirus, often called the ?stomach bug,? food poisoning or viral gastroenteritis, is the most common cause of acute gastroenteritis in the United States. In collaboration with the North Carolina Division of Public Health (NCDPH), Catawba County Public Health collected a limited number of stool samples from individuals reporting illness and sent them to the state laboratory on January 25.

Lab analysis revealed the presence of norovirus. ?Catawba County Public Health is continuing to work closely with Harbor Inn to help prevent further illness,? said Doug Urland, health director, Catawba County Public Health. ?Because norovirus is such a common illness, especially during this time of year, we encourage everyone to help prevent the spread of infection by washing their hands often and staying home when sick.?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), norovirus is a common, easily-transmissible, and highly contagious illness that can cause vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pain. Symptoms usually resolve themselves within one to two days, but the virus may be detectable in stool for a longer period of time. No specific drug is used to treat norovirus. If illness occurs, drink fluids to prevent dehydration and seek medical attention if symptoms continue.

Catawba County Public Health began investigating after receiving the first report of illness on January 17. Since then, a total of 128 complaints have been documented to date. A majority of the complaints were from individuals who ate at the restaurant on January 13 or 14. The last date associated with causing illness is January 20. The onset of illness typically occurred within 12 to 24 hours after dining and lasted 24 to 36 hours.

Following the initial report of illness, Catawba County Public Health?s Environmental Health specialists conducted a thorough inspection of the restaurant and found no violations. They are monitoring the situation daily and are providing additional safe foodservice education to restaurant personnel, who have also been following recommended, extra-stringent sanitation guidelines.

As a result of the findings, Catawba County Public Health is taking additional steps to educate the community about norovirus and how to prevent the spread of infection. For more information from the CDC about norovirus, please visit www.cdc.gov.

http://www.catawbacountync.gov/events/notovirus.pdf

 

[Pathfinder]

Re: North Carolina - Norovirus cases 2012

Norovirus hits two nursing homes

By: JOHN HINTON | Winston-Salem Journal
Published: February 01, 2012

More than 20 cases of norovirus infections have occurred at two Forsyth County nursing homes amid statewide reports of the illness in other counties, officials said Tuesday.

The Forsyth County Health Department has reported the outbreaks to state public health officials, said Linda Means, the department's communicable-disease nursing supervisor. Means declined to identify the nursing homes, but she said the affected elderly patients are being treated.
...
Throughout January, several local health departments across North Carolina have reported multiple outbreaks of norovirus.

State officials have received reports about outbreaks in Stokes, Alamance, Cabarrus, Catawba, Mecklenburg, Orange, Pitt and Wake counties, said Mark Van Sciver, division spokesman...

Full text:
http://www2.journalnow.com/news/2012/feb/01/wsmet01-norovirus-hits-two-nursing-homes-ar-1877309/

 

[Pathfinder]

Re: North Carolina - Norovirus cases 2012

Norovirus Infections Spreading Widely Across North Carolina: <!-- InstanceEndEditable -->
<!-- InstanceBeginEditable name="subtitle" -->
State Public Health Officials urge precautions to prevent possible exposure<!-- InstanceEndEditable -->
<!-- InstanceBeginEditable name="pageText" -->
For release: Immediate January 31, 2012
Contact: Mark Van Sciver, 919-707-5059

RALEIGH?Throughout January, several local health departments across North Carolina have reported multiple outbreaks of norovirus, prompting state public health officials to issue advice on steps everyone can take to avoid this common and unpleasant gastrointestinal illness.

?The most important message we have right now is that people who are ill with vomiting or diarrhea should not work, go to school or attend daycare while they are having symptoms, ?said State Epidemiologist Dr. Megan Davies. ?Everyone needs to wash their hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and water. This is the most effective way to protect yourself and others against norovirus since hand sanitizers alone are not as effective against this hardy virus.?

Noroviruses are easily transmitted by touching a contaminated surface as well as by direct contact or by eating food or drinking liquids that have been contaminated with the virus. Noroviruses are notoriously difficult to kill with normal cleaning and disinfecting procedures. Surfaces that have been contaminated with stool or vomit should be cleaned immediately and disinfected with a freshly prepared diluted bleach solution or a bleach-based household cleaner.

Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramping. Some may have fever, chills, headache, muscle aches and a general sense of tiredness. The symptoms can begin suddenly and an infected person may go from feeling well to very sick in a very short period of time. In most people, the illness lasts for about one or two days. People with norovirus illness are contagious from the moment they begin feeling sick until at least three days after they recover. Some people may be contagious for even longer, she added. Infection can be more severe in young children and elderly people. Dehydration can occur rapidly and may require medical treatment or hospitalization.

?Unfortunately, there is no specific medications to treat norovirus, but infected people should drink plenty of liquids to replace fluid lost through vomiting and diarrhea,? Davies said. ?The best course of action is prevention.?



Davies offered several simple steps to take if you suspect the presence of a norovirus:

• Wash hands frequently with soap and water, especially after toilet visits and before preparing, serving or eating food or drink. Hand sanitizers are not as effective against norovirus.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces contaminated with vomit or diarrhea immediately using a bleach-based household cleaner, or dilute household bleach 1:10 in water (must be mixed fresh daily; never use undiluted bleach).
• Stay home when sick.
• Do not prepare food for other people when sick and for at least three days afterward.

For more information about norovirus, see the Division of Public Health Web site at www.ncpublichealth.com. More detailed information about cleanup in private homes and in other settings can be found at http://epi.publichealth.nc.gov/cd/norovirus/NORO_personal_health.pdf .

http://www.ncdhhs.gov/pressrel/2012/2012-01-31_Norovirus_Infections_Spreading_NC.htm

 

[Pathfinder]

Re: North Carolina - Norovirus cases 2012

North Carolina public health officials search for source of stomach bug

<!--endclickprintinclude--><!--startclickprintexclude--><!--no partner-->By Joe Sutton, CNN
updated 10:44 PM EST, Wed February 1, 2012


(CNN) -- A series of viral outbreaks causing diarrhea and vomiting has affected scores of people in North Carolina in recent weeks, sickening them, but causing no fatalities, health officials there said Wednesday.

Several health departments have reported multiple outbreaks, prompting officials to urge residents to take precautions to prevent possible exposure to the virus, which they identified as norovirus.

The largest outbreak, with 135 cases traced to a single restaurant, was found in Catawba County, said Kelly Schermerhorn, a public information officer with the Catawba County Public Health Department. She said the cases were linked to the Harbor Inn Seafood Diner in Conover. The restaurant is about an hour northwest of Charlotte.

Most of the complaints were from people who had eaten at the restaurant on January 13 or January 14 and became ill 12 to 24 hours after dining there, said the health department in a posting on its website. Health officials are calling about 100 Harbor Inn patrons in a case-control study to find out what they ate and how they may have become sick.

More...
http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/01/health/north-carolina-stomach-bug/?hpt=he_c2

 

[Pathfinder]

Re: North Carolina - Norovirus cases 2012

Protect your family from Norovirus

Posted on <TIME class=entry-date datetime="2012-02-09T15:20:21-05:00" pubdate>February 9, 2012</TIME> by tcepta
<!-- .entry-meta --></HEADER><!-- .entry-header -->
According to the NC State Public Health Department, Charlotte and its surrounding areas have recently been experiencing an outbreak of Norovirus, recognized as the leading cause of diarrheal outbreaks in the United States. This Norovius is greatly impacting the students of Torrence Creek Elementary.

?The most important message we have right now is that people who are ill with vomiting or diarrhea should not work, go to school or attend daycare while they are having symptoms,? said State Epidemiologist Dr. Megan Davies. ?Everyone needs to wash their hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and water. This is the most effective way to protect yourself and others against norovirus since hand sanitizers alone are not as effective against this hardy virus.?

More...
http://tcepta.org/2012/02/09/protect-your-family-from-norovirus/

 

[Pathfinder]

Re: North Carolina - Norovirus cases 2012

Norovirus cases reported at area long-term facilities

Submitted by Ashley Barker, Community Web Producer
Friday, February 17th, 2012, 2:41pm

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WECT) ? There are no specific medications to treat norovirus, which has been reported in several long-term facilities in New Hanover County recently.

There are some preventative measures that folks can take to reduce the spread of the virus, commonly known as the stomach flu.

New Hanover County Health Director Joshua Smith stated, ?The most important message we have right now is that people who are ill with vomiting and/or diarrhea should not go to work, go to school or attend daycare while they are having symptoms. Everyone needs to wash their hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and warm water.?

More...
http://myrtlegrove.wect.com/news/co...irus-cases-reported-area-long-term-facilities

 

[Pathfinder]

Re: North Carolina - Norovirus cases 2012

Public health officials warn of norovirus outbreaks

<!-- BYLINE -->By Brian Freskos
Brian.Freskos@StarNewsOnline.com

<!-- PUBDATE -->Published: Saturday, February 18, 2012 at 5:48 p.m.

Health workers are sounding alarms about a widespread outbreak of norovirus, a gastrointestinal illness that federal disease experts say kills about 800 people annually nationwide.

On Friday, the New Hanover County Health Department said the virus had sickened several people in area long-term care facilities in the past week and steps had been taken to prevent it from spreading further.

Elsewhere in North Carolina, the virus has popped up in nursing homes, assisted-living facilities and even a school, with at least 30 separate outbreaks reported statewide since Jan. 1.

"There's a lot of norovirus in North Carolina, and it's showing up everywhere," said David Sweat, a foodborne disease epidemiologist with the N.C. Division of Public Health.

More...
http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20120218/ARTICLES/120219693

 

[Pathfinder]

Re: North Carolina - Norovirus cases 2012

Duke

Several cases have been reported among employees and students

February 20, 2012 |

Durham, NC - The N.C. Division of Public Health recently issued an advisory regarding an increase in norovirus infections throughout the state, and in the last week, several suspected norovirus cases have also been reported among employees and students at Duke.
...
"All students, faculty and staff are advised to practice effective hand hygiene to limit the spread of the virus," said Dr. George Jackson, co-director of Employee Occupational Health and Wellness. "The best way to prevent infection is by washing hands with soap and warm water for at least 15 seconds. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers may not be effective against noroviruses."

If experiencing an illness consistent with norovirus infection, employees should stay out of work until 24 hours after all symptoms have resolved. This is especially true for healthcare workers and dining services staff who could potentially transmit infection to a large number of people. Students with norovirus symptoms should remain in their rooms and minimize contact with others to limit the spread of the virus.
...
Any suspected cases of a norovirus infection should be reported to either Student Health (919-681-9355) or the Employee Occupational Health and Wellness (EOHW) hotline (919-684-8115) for monitoring of a potential outbreak on campus. All healthcare workers and dining employees with symptoms of a norovirus infection must contact the EOHW hotline to be clear to return to work. Any students who become dehydrated as a result of a norovirus infection should visit the Student Health Center and employees experiencing dehydration should visit their primary care physician or an urgent care facility.

For more information about noroviruses, visit the Center for Disease Control's Norovirus website.

http://today.duke.edu/norovirus

 

[Pathfinder]

Re: North Carolina - Norovirus cases 2012

Norovirus hangs on

March 18, 2012 3:44 PM

DAILY NEWS STAFF

<!-- Video goes here -->BEAUFORT ? The unpleasant norovirus is still lingering.

The Carteret County Health Department continues to receive reports of norovirus-related illness and is reminding the public to take steps to avoid illness and to stay home when ill.
...
?Unfortunately, norovirus is still here,? Carteret County Health Director Dr. J. T. Garrett said via the news release. ?So we want to stress that anyone that is ill with vomiting or diarrhea should not go to work, school or childcare while they are having symptoms. It is best to stay home for 48 hours after symptoms are gone. Also, we want to remind everyone that alcohol-based hand sanitizers are not effective in killing norovirus, so please wash your hands often and vigorously with soap and water.?
...
Full text:
http://www.jdnews.com/news/-101835--.html