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POSSIBLE NOROVIRUS HALTS VISITS AT SAN QUENTIN
http://cbs5.com/localwire/localfsne...News/NOROVIRUS-SAN-QUENTIN/resources_bcn_html
01/02/07 3:00 PST SAN QUENTIN STATE PRISON (BCN)
San Quentin State Prison officials are taking precautions today after a rash of possible norovirus cases broke out among inmates and employees.
Prison officials last week noticed a larger-than-normal number of staff and prisoners with flu-like symptoms, said Rudy Luna, administrative assistant to the warden.
Since Wednesday, prison officials have restricted the movement of sick inmates, instituted rigorous cleaning measures and placed hand sanitizers throughout the facility, Luna said.
Prison officials have also terminated all visiting, Luna said.
"It's just like when we get the flu at home ... this is just a big house here," he said.
Visiting will likely resume on Thursday, as the bug seems to be winding down, Luna said.
"It was basically a 72-hour bug and it's pretty well finished," he said.
Health officials say norovirus, which lives in stool or vomit and can be easily transmitted - including by touching a surface contaminated by an infected person, or by sharing food, drink or utensils - is very common. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, muscle cramps and a low-grade fever.
The state Department of Health is in the process of determining if the illness at San Quentin is indeed norovirus.
Dr. Celia Golden, deputy public health officer for Marin County, said norovirus is a stubborn problem that crops up every year. Currently, there are two nursing homes with active cases in Marin.
One nursing home has four possible cases. The other had two confirmed cases, and now has another two suspected cases. Golden declined to release the names of the facilities.
"It's definitely a problem," she said. "It's not anything anyone wants in their nursing home. The measures to combat it - like keeping people confined to their rooms and curtailing visits and activities - are taxing for employees and residents."
Though the close quarters of prisons and nursing homes may help spread norovirus, Golden stressed that the illness can affect anyone.
"It doesn't spring up on its own in nursing homes, it comes in from the community," she said. "It's a seasonal thing and this is the season for it."
http://cbs5.com/localwire/localfsne...News/NOROVIRUS-SAN-QUENTIN/resources_bcn_html
01/02/07 3:00 PST SAN QUENTIN STATE PRISON (BCN)
San Quentin State Prison officials are taking precautions today after a rash of possible norovirus cases broke out among inmates and employees.
Prison officials last week noticed a larger-than-normal number of staff and prisoners with flu-like symptoms, said Rudy Luna, administrative assistant to the warden.
Since Wednesday, prison officials have restricted the movement of sick inmates, instituted rigorous cleaning measures and placed hand sanitizers throughout the facility, Luna said.
Prison officials have also terminated all visiting, Luna said.
"It's just like when we get the flu at home ... this is just a big house here," he said.
Visiting will likely resume on Thursday, as the bug seems to be winding down, Luna said.
"It was basically a 72-hour bug and it's pretty well finished," he said.
Health officials say norovirus, which lives in stool or vomit and can be easily transmitted - including by touching a surface contaminated by an infected person, or by sharing food, drink or utensils - is very common. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, muscle cramps and a low-grade fever.
The state Department of Health is in the process of determining if the illness at San Quentin is indeed norovirus.
Dr. Celia Golden, deputy public health officer for Marin County, said norovirus is a stubborn problem that crops up every year. Currently, there are two nursing homes with active cases in Marin.
One nursing home has four possible cases. The other had two confirmed cases, and now has another two suspected cases. Golden declined to release the names of the facilities.
"It's definitely a problem," she said. "It's not anything anyone wants in their nursing home. The measures to combat it - like keeping people confined to their rooms and curtailing visits and activities - are taxing for employees and residents."
Though the close quarters of prisons and nursing homes may help spread norovirus, Golden stressed that the illness can affect anyone.
"It doesn't spring up on its own in nursing homes, it comes in from the community," she said. "It's a seasonal thing and this is the season for it."