Potential Norovirus Outbreak Hits Rice Lake
Rice Lake Virus
Lindsay Veremis
arron County, and now the Health Department there is trying to figure out why.
Health Department director Kaye Thompson says 18 people are sick with what they think is the norovirus. They say the outbreak is being contained but since the virus is highly contagious, it can still spread easily.
"It was typical flu type things, it was vomiting and diarrhea really bad, all night long to the point where by very early Saturday morning I asked to get a ride to the hospital," Rice Lake resident Terry Warren said.
The health department says all 18 people who have the virus attended the same Habitat for Humanity soup supper where they sampled as many as 12 different soups. They say that's making it difficult to find the cause.
"We contacted almost everyone who was there, almost 100 people, spoke with them, and we try to eliminate things into one food source but it's almost going to be impossible to get it down to one food source," Thompson said.
The Barron County Health Department is now working with the state epidemiologist to conduct its investigation. Thompson says Rice Lake isn't the only area with norovirus, there are also a number of other cases throughout western Wisconsin.
Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, nausea and abdominal cramps, and the illness usually lasts 24 to 48 hours. It can be transmitted by contaminated food, surfaces or direct contact with an infected person.
Thompson says she believes this virus came from a contaminated food source. She says anyone working in the kitchen, or attending the event could have touched the food.. and spread the virus.
But, she says good hygiene habits and frequent handwashing can do a lot to contain it.
Another outbreak of norovirus happened this week at Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire. That outbreak closed the fourth floor of the hospital. Sacred heart now says that floor will likely re-open next week.
Rice Lake Virus
Lindsay Veremis
arron County, and now the Health Department there is trying to figure out why.
Health Department director Kaye Thompson says 18 people are sick with what they think is the norovirus. They say the outbreak is being contained but since the virus is highly contagious, it can still spread easily.
"It was typical flu type things, it was vomiting and diarrhea really bad, all night long to the point where by very early Saturday morning I asked to get a ride to the hospital," Rice Lake resident Terry Warren said.
The health department says all 18 people who have the virus attended the same Habitat for Humanity soup supper where they sampled as many as 12 different soups. They say that's making it difficult to find the cause.
"We contacted almost everyone who was there, almost 100 people, spoke with them, and we try to eliminate things into one food source but it's almost going to be impossible to get it down to one food source," Thompson said.
The Barron County Health Department is now working with the state epidemiologist to conduct its investigation. Thompson says Rice Lake isn't the only area with norovirus, there are also a number of other cases throughout western Wisconsin.
Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, nausea and abdominal cramps, and the illness usually lasts 24 to 48 hours. It can be transmitted by contaminated food, surfaces or direct contact with an infected person.
Thompson says she believes this virus came from a contaminated food source. She says anyone working in the kitchen, or attending the event could have touched the food.. and spread the virus.
But, she says good hygiene habits and frequent handwashing can do a lot to contain it.
Another outbreak of norovirus happened this week at Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire. That outbreak closed the fourth floor of the hospital. Sacred heart now says that floor will likely re-open next week.