Taiwan - FDA warns about spread of norovirus

[Pathfinder]

Sun, Dec 30, 2012

FDA warns about spread of norovirus

The Department of Health?s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed yesterday that the cases of alleged food poisoning at schools in Greater Kaohsiung reported last week were the result of a cluster of norovirus infections.

Earlier this month, two clusters of norovirus infections broke out in two elementary schools in Greater Kaohsiung, causing some classes to be suspended. On Friday last week, more cases of alleged collective food poisoning, influenza or norovirus infections were reported in elementary schools in Greater Kaohsiung, resulting in dozens of students being sent to hospital.
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On Tuesday last week, CDC released its latest report on diarrhea, showing the number of cases reported at emergency rooms in the past four weeks surpassed the number of cases during the same period last year by two to three times.

A total of 57 cases of cluster norovirus infections have occurred since September, of which 24 occurred at schools and preschools, 16 at care centers and other highly populated facilities and 15 at hospitals, the CDC said...

Full text:
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2012/12/30/2003551336

 

[Pathfinder]

Re: Taiwan - FDA warns about spread of norovirus

Norovirus a main cause of diarrhea surges in Taipei's ERs: CDC

The China Post news staff
January 8, 2013, 12:01 am TWN

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Cases of diarrhea in emergency rooms across Taipei over the past four weeks have doubled compared to the same period last year mainly due to a widespread outbreak of the Norovirus, Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday.

According to the Taipei City Government Department of Health (DOH), 2,100 people went to emergency rooms last week due to diarrhea. The DOH analyzed the cases and said this is likely due to the New Year's four-day vacation during which people tend to eat hotpot in cold weather and if the food is unclean or not properly cooked, then it is very easy to get infected by the virus. DOH said every November to March is the peak season for viruses that cause diarrhea, like the Norovirus.
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Chu said, furthermore, that the virus can last in excrement for more than two weeks even if the patient seems fully recovered. If a person touches a virus-contaminated item or stays too close to a patient, he or she may become infected, stated Chu. The best way to kill the virus is to use a 1:10 dilution of bleacher and wipe it on contaminated items, Chu suggested.

Full text:
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national-news/2013/01/08/366656/Norovirus-a.htm