Oregon - Norovirus cases 2012

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County Health Department Warns of Norovirus & Upper Respitory Infections Outbreak

March 20, 2012

The Clatsop County Public Health Department has been investigating several outbreaks of acute vomiting and diarrhea in local elder care facilities believed to be linked to a contagious infection.

Two of the cases have been identified as caused by the norovirus. This is an extremely contagious gastrointestinal infection spread most often by hands that have been contaminated with feces or vomit or aerosolized vomit of infected people.

More...
http://www.northcoastoregon.com/201...orovirus-upper-respitory-infections-outbreak/

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Department News Release
Friday, March 16, 2012

LOCAL NOROVIRUS CASES PROMPT CALL FOR HEALTH PRECAUTIONS

The Clatsop County Public Health Department has been investigating several outbreaks of acute vomiting and diarrhea in local elder care facilities believed to be linked to a contagious infection.

Two of the cases have been identified as caused by the norovirus. This is an extremely contagious gastrointestinal infection spread most often by hands that have been contaminated with feces or vomit or aerosolized vomit of infected people.

To prevent the spread of norovirus and other gastrointestinal infections, the Public Health Department urges people to practice frequent hand-washing or sanitizing, especially after using the bathroom or changing diapers, before preparing meals or feeding an infant, and before and after providing care to another.

People with acute vomiting and diarrhea should not return to school, daycare, residential care or food service until they have been symptom-free for 72 hours. Those people should also inform their employers of their illness, and continue to practice scrupulous hand-washing.

For more information contact the Public Health Department at (503) 325-8500.

http://www.co.clatsop.or.us/news.asp?deptid=6&pageid=&pressID=3113

 

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Re: Oregon - Norovirus cases 2012

Norovirus suspected at Ashland nursing home

County seeing cases of the common illness more often than usual, officials confirm

By Vickie Aldous
Ashland Daily Tidings
Posted: 2:00 AM March 21, 2012

The Linda Vista Nursing & Rehabilitation Center on Maple Street in Ashland has been coping with a suspected outbreak of norovirus during what Jackson County health officials said is a bad year for the virus in the area.

In a statement released on Tuesday afternoon in response to media inquiries, Linda Vista Administrator and spokeswoman Brenda Thornton said people at the center began noticing on March 12 that a number of staff members and residents were demonstrating symptoms similar to stomach flu or food poisoning.

Preliminary testing indicates the illness was caused by norovirus, she said.

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http://www.dailytidings.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120321/NEWS02/203210307/-1/NEWSMAP

 

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Re: Oregon - Norovirus cases 2012

Inka Bajandas
ibajandas@nrtoday.com
December 4, 2012

Oakland students sickened with norovirus ate in cafeteria<!--/fi:/csp/mediapool/sites/SwiftShared/assets/csp/getHeadline.csp, e:.212064 -->

OAKLAND ? Many of the Oakland students who became ill with norovirus last week ate lunch in the cafeteria, according to the Douglas County Health Department.

The health department confirmed Monday that the roughly 100 students who got sick with symptoms that included vomiting and diarrhea had the highly contagious norovirus.

Stool samples tested positive for the virus, which also sickened students and staff members last month at Fir Grove Elementary School in Roseburg.
The health department is still investigating whether there is a link between the two norovirus outbreaks.

Oakland schools reopened Monday after closing Wednesday afternoon when about one-fifth of the student population got sick. Custodial staff sterilized school buildings on Thursday and Friday.

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http://www.nrtoday.com/news/obituaries/singleobituaries/3607378-113/oakland-norovirus-students-virus

 

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Re: Oregon - Norovirus cases 2012

Norovirus sickens students, staff at Buckman school

By KATU NewsPublished: <ABBR class="published dtstamp" title=2012-12-11T19:04:11Z>Dec 11, 2012 at 11:04 AM PST</ABBR>Last Updated: <ABBR class="updated dtstamp" title=2012-12-11T20:45:54Z>Dec 11, 2012 at 12:45 PM PST</ABBR>
<ABBR class="updated dtstamp" title=2012-12-11T20:45:54Z></ABBR>
<ABBR class="updated dtstamp" title=2012-12-11T20:45:54Z></ABBR>
<ABBR class="updated dtstamp" title=2012-12-11T20:45:54Z>PORTLAND, Ore. ? The norovirus has likely sickened dozens of students and staffers at Buckman Elementary School in Southeast Portland, according to health officials.

Dr. Amy Sullivan, Manager of Communicable and Disease Services for Multnomah County, said they are investigating and working to confirm a "cluster of cases" at the school.

A number of people came down with nausea and diarrhea, symptoms very similar to the flu, Sullivan said, but she added it does appear the illness is being caused by norovirus. She said a low-grade fever can also be a sign of the virus.
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http://www.katu.com/news/local/Norovirus-sickens-30-at-Buckman-school-in-Portland-183025731.html

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Re: Oregon - Norovirus cases 2012

About 90 sickened at Oregon Zoo in suspected norovirus outbreak

Published: Tuesday, December 11, 2012, 2:47 PM Updated: Tuesday, December 11, 2012, 2:48 PM

By Lynne Terry, The OregonianThe Oregonian

A private meeting of women's medical professionals at the Oregon Zoo last week ended with dozens getting sick.

About 90 of the 220 people at a Wednesday morning meeting of Women's Healthcare Associates developed gastro-intestinal symptoms, said Dr. Katrina Hedberg, state epidemiologist at Oregon Public Health.

Investigators suspect they were sickened by norovirus, which is highly contagious and infects clusters of people every winter.

"Norovirus is the most likely culprit," Hedberg said. "We tend to see outbreaks this time of year. This one does seem to be larger than many that we see."

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http://www.oregonlive.com/health/index.ssf/2012/12/about_70_sickened_at_oregon_zo.html

 

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Re: Oregon - Norovirus cases 2012

December 26th, 2012 ERIN FENNER | News

No Inspections for Zoo Restaurants Since 2006

Revelation follows outbreak that sickened 135 diners.
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Middaugh says zoo restaurant employees do daily inspections, adding there?s no evidence county inspections would have prevented the suspected norovirus outbreak. He acknowledges Metro has not hired an outside inspector to ensure restaurant employees are following state health rules.
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State health officials believe the 135 diners at the zoo were made sick by a norovirus, or Norwalk virus, which causes vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pain. They believe the food was contaminated between Dec. 5 and 7.
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Zoo officials say two restaurants, Cascade Grill and AfriCafe, and the zoo?s food preparation areas were later sanitized. Modie says a subsequent investigation found no big problems. Kawaguchi says the zoo has since asked county inspectors to consult with its restaurants.

More...
http://www.wweek.com/portland/article-20067-no_inspections_for_z.html