Norovirus Blog

From Cruise Ship To Casino, Norovirus Gets Around

marler@marlerclark.com (Norovirus Attorney) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 11:14:04 -0800

Whenever you are wishing you are on vacation you can usually pick up the newspaper and find reasons to be glad you are at work. Just thinking about being on board the 400-passenger Marco Polo with 150 sick and one dead due to norovirus or checking into Reno's famous Peppermill Resort and Casino to find a wedding party there has norovirus are enough to make you glad your are not there.

The man who died on the Marco Polo is believed to be from Norwich area of England. Like the others on board, the man was "on holiday" when he died. The London Telegraph reports:

The ship is docked in Invergordon, Easter Ross, and NHS Highland said last night that tests were underway to confirm the nature of the outbreak. Some patients are thought to have been taken to hospital in Inverness.

The Marco Polo, operated by Transocean Cruises, sailed from Tilbury docks in London at the weekend and was due to sail around Britain and Ireland over the next week.

Meanwhile, Reno health officials are investigating an apparent norovirus outbreak at the Peppermill that is believed centered around a wedding party that brought about 175 to the hotel casino.

Three Months Of Norovirus Outbreaks Leaves Northern New Zealand With Almost 400 Victims

marler@marlerclark.com (Norovirus Attorney) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 15:49:01 -0800

New Zealand's Manawatu Standard is keeping score on the ongoing Norovirus outbreaks on the country's North Island. Staff Writer Janine Rankin reports:

Nearly 400 people in Palmerston North and Horowhenua have been stricken by the bug norovirus in the past three months.

The figure doesn't include more than 150 Palmerston North Hospital patients and staff who were ill during March and April, and an undisclosed number since the second week of June.

While the hospital has locked most of its doors against visitors, restricted entrance to most wards and shut down visitor lifts to control its outbreak, the incidence of the bug in the community has waned since April.

MidCentral Public Health Unit health protection officer Peter Wood confirmed 15 outbreaks of gastroenteritis had been reported in three months, and in 12 of them, norovirus was confirmed as the cause.

Most of the outbreaks were in residential institutions such as rest homes, but two were not. Check out the rest of her story in the Manawatu Standard.

Three Months Of Norovirus Outbreaks Leaves Northern New Zealand With Almost 400 Victims

marler@marlerclark.com (Norovirus Attorney) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 15:49:01 -0800

New Zealand's Manawatu Standard is keeping score on the ongoing Norovirus outbreaks on the country's North Island. Staff Writer Janine Rankin reports:

Nearly 400 people in Palmerston North and Horowhenua have been stricken by the bug norovirus in the past three months.

The figure doesn't include more than 150 Palmerston North Hospital patients and staff who were ill during March and April, and an undisclosed number since the second week of June.

Most of the outbreaks were in residential institutions such as rest homes, but two were not.

160 - Unit Senior Housing Complex In Santa Rosa, CA Deals With Norovirus Outbreak

marler@marlerclark.com (Norovirus Attorney) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:35:57 -0800

Residents of a California senior housing complex canceled group meals and activities to combat a suspected outbreak of norovirus, health officials said.

More than 20 of the 160 residents at Oakmont Gardens in Santa Rosa, CA reported flu-like symptoms, primarily nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, according to David Peironnet, executive director of the independent and assisted living senior apartment complex.

Ill residents are "staying to themselves," Peironnet said, while others are free to move about the facility, which is not quarantined.

Highly contagious norovirus, often associated with cruise ships, hospitals and other semi-closed communities, has sickened about 2,000 people in long-term care and skilled nursing facilities in California's Sonoma County since 2006.

It is believed to have been a contributing factor in the deaths of seven people in the last three years.

More on the outbreak can be found in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat.

Norovirus Called "The Most Common Cause" Of Food-Borne Illness Outbreaks By CDC

marler@marlerclark.com (Norovirus Attorney) — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 13:39:16 -0800

Norovirus is on the upswing in the United States, a new report by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) suggests.

No national surveillance system exists for Norovirus except where food-borne transmission is suspected. In last half of 2006, state public health departments began reporting more outbreaks involving acute gastroenteritis (AGE). Many of these involved residents of long-term care facilities.

Two years ago, in the (Aug. 24, 2007) Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), CDC confirmed that “ a national increase has occurred in the frequency of AGE outbreaks caused by norovirus (including fatal cases in long-term--care facilities). Two new co-circulating GII.4 norovirus strains emerged nationwide in 2006 and likely accounted for this increase in activity.”

In today’s MMWR, CDC takes a more robust look at food-borne outbreaks in 2006 and finds Norovirus is “the most common cause.” In an analysis titled: “Surveillance for Foodborne Disease Outbreaks --- United States, 2006,” CDC breaks down the outbreaks for 2006 on which it has data.

“A total of 1,270 Food-Borne Disease Outbreaks (FBDOs) were reported, resulting in 27,634 (illness) cases and 11 deaths.

“Among the 624 FBDOs with a confirmed etiology, norovirus was the most common cause, accounting for 54 percent of outbreaks and 11,879 cases…” CDC reports.

In 621 outbreaks involving 18,111 cases, there was a single confirmed etiologic agent responsible. In 55 percent of those outbreaks (343) involving 66 percent of the cases (11,981), the cause was a virus. (Bacteria, parasites, and chemical agents caused the remainder.)

Calicivirus caused 337 (98 percent) of the confirmed FBDOs attributed to viruses; and all calicivirus outbreaks reported in 2006 were attributed to norovirus.

Outbreak Causes Tamaru Hospital To Postpone Elective Surgeries As Number of Norovirus Cases Soars

marler@marlerclark.com (Norovirus Lawyer) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 13:41:14 -0800

It is the cool season down under. New Zealand is experiencing temperatures in the 50's this time of year.

Maybe that is the reason for a soaring number of norovirus cases in Timaru, the fishing and cargo port on the South island. And, the outbreak is centered on Timaru Hospital where in the last 24 hours 19 patients and six staff members were suffering from norovirus symptoms.

The norovirus outbreak is so serious, the hospital serving a community of over 42,000 has decided to postpone elective surgeries. It put both its medical and surgical wards on lockdown.

Eleven surgeries have been postponed so far, according to clinical services general manager Christine Nolan, but none was cancelled.

"Surgery lists are being drawn up to include more cases of day surgery which allow people to recover at home instead of in-patient surgery requiring a lengthy recovery in hospital," Nolan told the Tamaru Herald.

The New Zealand newspaper has more here.

Norovirus Victims Quarantined At Fairmont Chateau Whistler Hotel; At Least Rooms Have A View

marler@marlerclark.com (Norovirus Lawyer) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 12:39:41 -0800

Twenty-three people who arrived on the Rocky Mountaineer train from Calgary to Vancouver were quarantined in their rooms at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler yesterday with Norovirus symptoms.

Public health officials confirmed the guests of the pricy hotel were being kept in their rooms. The sick were members of a 100-member tour group from the Brisbane area in Australia.

Dr. Paul Martiquet, public health officer with Vancouver Coastal Health, said on Monday that some members of another, similar tour group from the same area also came down with the virus last week.

Martiquet confirmed that the Chateau guests had Norwalk or Norovirus virus. Healthy members of the Australian tour group were allowed to move on to the Empress Hotel in Victoria.

For more, go here.

The virus usually takes about 24 hours to run its course, and as with many viruses, frequent handwashing is key to preventing contracting it from others, Martiquet said.

Georgia Long-Term Care Facility Limits Visitors Because Of Norovirus

marler@marlerclark.com (Norovirus Attorney) — Wed, 20 May 2009 06:23:26 -0800

A norovirus outbreak at the Columbus, GA-based Gardens at Calvary means people will have to limit their visits to the long-term care facility.

Several residents at the Gardens are ill with norovirus. The voluntary limit on the number of visitors entering the home took effect last week as control measures were implemented.

The Gardens at Calvary is located on Moon Road in Columbus. The local health department issued the following information to the public:

Noroviruses are found in the stool or vomit of infected people. People can become infected with the virus in several ways, including:

eating food or drinking liquids that are contaminated with norovirus;
touching surfaces or objects contaminated with norovirus, and then placing their hand in their mouth;
having direct contact with another person who is infected and showing symptoms (for example, when caring for someone with illness, or sharing foods or eating utensils with someone who is ill).

Norovirus Outbreak At Elementary School In Washington State

marler@marlerclark.com (Norovirus Lawyer) — Thu, 14 May 2009 09:40:31 -0800

Up in the most northwest corner of the United States, officials at the Eagle Creek Elementary School in Arlington, WA are happy to be sending in the cleaning crews to scrub things down.

That's because the 100 students and staff who got sick at the school have Norovirus, not the Swine Flu. It's just another reminder that the Norovirus season is not over yet.

The Snohomish County Health District says about 20 percent of the elementary school's student body plus some staff members are ill. They are suffering all the Norovirus symptoms including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramps. Symptoms typically last one to two days

The Everett Herald has a story here.

Holland, MI Parties Like Norovirus Is All In Its Past; And There Is No Swine Flu In Its Future

marler@marlerclark.com (Norovirus Attorney) — Mon, 04 May 2009 06:55:08 -0800

This past weekend in Holland, MI, "town and gown" activities included Hope College's graduation and class reunions; and the annual Tulip Festival. Out of concern for Swine Flu, there was no kissing at graduation. Handshakes, however, were encouraged.

And while there were already a couple of confirmed cases of Swine Flu in Michigan, and certain to be more as this week goes forward, Hope College enjoyed a worry-free celebration weekend. So much different than last November when a norovirus outbreak closed down the Holland campus and made more than 500 people sick. We first reported on the Hope College outbreak here.

The Grand Rapids Press reported that: "Visitors were either unaware or not worried about 10 probable cases of swine flu among Hope students, announced late Friday afternoon by the Ottawa County Health Department."

"Everybody is more aware after that (norovirus) experience, says Jonathan Hagood, 34, who teaches Latin American history at Hope. Since that outbreak, hand-washing and hand-sanitation stations were added around the campus.

"We are seeing a more proactive response because as a campus we had a trial run," he said.

For more about the big weekend in Holland, check this out.

"Swine Flu Rumors" Often Just Another Norovirus Outbreak

marler@marlerclark.com (Norovirus Attorney) — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 08:48:46 -0800

We are certain we could greatly up the number of hits on this blog if we re-named it "Swine Flu Rumors," but that would be wrong.

However, we have seen and for a time will continue to see national reporters asking federal health officials about rumors of Swine Flu that are in fact nothing more than our old friend, the Norovirus.

Take UOP in Des Plaines, IL for example. Its a manufacturing technology company and 46 of its workers were suddenly out with flu-like symptoms.

A Cook County Department of Public Health investigation found all were down with Norovirus and it was traced to an ill food worker.

So it was food-borne illness, and rumors of Swine Flu were proved to be unfounded.

Still we have brought it up, here are the latest Swine Flu numbers for the United States along with the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) statement from this morning:

Swine Influenza (Flu)

Swine Flu website last updated April 30, 2009, 10:30 AM ET

U.S. Human Cases of Swine Flu Infection
(As of April 30, 2009, 10:30 AM ET)
States	# of laboratory confirmed cases	Deaths
Arizona	1
California	14
Indiana	1
Kansas	2
Massachusetts	2
Michigan	1
Nevada	1
New York	50
Ohio	1
South Carolina	10
Texas	26	1
TOTAL COUNTS	109 cases	1 death
International Human Cases of Swine Flu Infection See: World Health Organization

In response to an intensifying outbreak in the United States and internationally caused by a new influenza virus of swine origin, the World Health Organization raised the worldwide pandemic alert level to Phase 5 on April 29, 2009. A Phase 5 alert is a “strong signal that a pandemic is imminent and that the time to finalize the organization, communication, and implementation of the planned mitigation measures is short.”

The United States Government has declared a public health emergency in the United States. CDC’s response goals are to reduce transmission and illness severity, and provide information to help health care providers, public health officials and the public address the challenges posed by this emergency. CDC is issuing and updating interim guidance daily in response to the rapidly evolving situation. CDC’s Division of the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) continues to send antiviral drugs, personal protective equipment, and respiratory protection devices to all 50 states and U.S. territories to help them respond to the outbreak. The swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is susceptible to the prescription antiviral drugs oseltamivir and zanamivir. In addition, the Federal Government and manufacturers have begun the process of developing a vaccine against this new virus.

California Community Of Davis Is Down With Norovirus

marler@marlerclark.com (Norovirus Attorney) — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 14:00:41 -0800

Going into last weekend, California's Yolo County Health Department went public with the news that the city of Davis is experiencing an outbreak of norovirus with 70 already ill. We cannot say whether Yolo County got the word out early or late Friday, but we suspect late because it really did not show up in the news until this morning. According to Yolo County:

Health officials are providing targeted community education to control the outbreak. “Norovirus can be contained fairly quickly when control measures are started and maintained consistently,” states Bruce Sarazin, Director of the Yolo County Health Department Environmental Health Division. The Health Department has provided Norovirus control guidelines to all affected institutions, businesses, and individuals and will closely monitor the situation.

Maybe the "targeted community education" would have been more effective if Yolo County had not wasted the weekend in getting the word out. Go here for the story in today's Woodland Daily Democrat. And, remember to be careful out there. The norovirus season is not over yet.

MSU's Shaw Hall Cafeteria Closed Until At Least Saturday As Norovirus Strikes 30 Students

marler@marlerclark.com (Norovirus Attorney) — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 19:33:20 -0800

Shaw Hall, a central cafeteria and dorm on the Michigan State University campus, is the latest victim of a norovirus outbreak. About 30 MSU students got the vomit disease.

The Shaw Hall cafeteria is closed until at least Saturday morning, said university spokesperson Jason Cody. According to the Detroit Free Press:

Ingham County Health Department Medical Director Dean Sienko said the department had a hunch it was norovirus, and started their control measures ahead of the lab results, which he said gives them the advantage over the virus.

“We’re not out of the woods yet,” Sienko said. “We know at least what our enemy is.” A few more students have appeared at Sparrow Hospital today, he said, but nothing like the mass of students that flooded the emergency room Wednesday, starting at 1:30 a.m.

Sienko said this outbreak is not food-related. Norovirus is spread easily by contact with infected individuals, sharing their food or drink, or contacting surfaces contaminated by the virus.

Cody said disinfection procedures are also in place at dorms besides Shaw Hall where sick students lived.

For more from the Free Press, go here.

Back To Class Order Given At Babson College After Norovirus Strikes Campus

marler@marlerclark.com (Norovirus Attorney) — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 14:19:48 -0800

Babson College is calling students back to classes after a norovirus outbreak that made dozens of students ill at the Wellesley campus during the last week.

All regular and extracurricular activities were being held Wednesday, according to Babson spokesman Michael Chmura.
How many students actually returned to classes was not known.

Chmura said students who had experienced symptoms of the virus within the last 48 hours were advised to stay in their dorms and not return to classes.

Through Tuesday night, Babson was reporting that 83 students had visited campus Health Services since the outbreak began, while 42 students had called to report symptoms. Some faculty and staff members also became ill.

For more, go here.

Hospitals, Nursing Homes, and Prisons--All Great Places For Norovirus

marler@marlerclark.com (Norovirus Attorney) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 13:35:46 -0800

The Norovirus season is not giving up just yet.
In Canada, the Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region (RQHR) closed Unit 4B on March 11 after the virus was discovered.
During the four-day outbreak three patients were confirmed to have Norovirus while an additional nine patients showed symptoms of the disease.
Further south in the Washington State town of Kennewick, the Life Care Center is on a "lockdown" after nursing home residents came down with what's suspected to be the highly contagious norovirus.
The virus most commonly known for outbreaks on cruise ships is believed to have sickened a third of the 95 residents, though tests to confirm the virus can take several days, according to its director of nursing.
One resident was confirmed Monday to be infected with norovirus. A few residents remain hospitalized to make sure they don't get too dehydrated.
Even out in Hawaii, where winter is not an issue, two nursing care facilities on Maui have reported a large norovirus outbreak over the last couple of weeks.
Also earlier this month in Idaho, an outbreak of norovirus at the State Correctional Institution has led to a suspension of visitation at the medium security prison south of Boise, for several days.
.

Cruise Ships Docks With A Boatload of Norovirus

marler@marlerclark.com (Norovirus Attorney) — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 17:44:42 -0800

The MS Oosterdam is back at sea today sailing its way toward the Mexican Riviera after docking yesterday in San Diego with a boatload of passengers sick with norovirus.

While docked, the crew disinfected the boat, which was back at sea Saturday night.

How many of its 2,600 passengers were sick is not really known--easily more than 100. But since cruise ships lie about drowning their passengers, we doubt they keep good track of how many are heaving their lunches over the rail.

Symptoms due to norovirus include diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.

Norovirus Is Having Its Way With Massachusetts

marler@marlerclark.com (Norovirus Lawyer) — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 09:18:52 -0800

More than 60 Massachusetts hospitals and long-term care facilities this winter reported outbreaks of illnesses likely caused by norovirus, according to the state's Department of Public Health.

State health officials worked with each of the facilities to ensure proper infection control procedures were followed. Since January, eight Massachusetts food-handling facilities and three schools or day cares have also been stricken by outbreaks of gastrointestinal sickness, according to figures from the DPH.

Noroviruses are a group of particularly strong viruses that cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, according to DPH officials.

The viruses are spread easily through food and by direct physical contact. The illness can also spread through contact with contaminated surfaces, like countertops and door knobs.

A norovirus infection usually results in an unpleasant, short-term illness, but can be more serious for infants, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems.

Southeast Minnesota County Says 2008-09 Norovirus Is The Worst In 25 Years

marler@marlerclark.com (Norovirus Attorney) — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 16:55:42 -0800

The Post-Bulletin, Rochester MN is reporting that Olmsted County, MN is experiencing one of the worst norovirus seasons in its recent history. The Post-Bulletin says:

"The winter of 2008-2009 may be recorded as one of the worst Norovirus virus seasons in Olmsted County in 25 years," the county's Web site says.

Norovirus, contained in fecal matter, causes severe vomiting and diarrhea. It is spread from poorly washed hands that touch the mouth or when people eat contaminated food.

Larry Edmonson, director of disease prevention and control at Olmsted County Public Health, said four outbreaks happened in the last four months of 2008. Outbreaks occurred because of contaminated food at two weddings, a holiday office party and a restaurant.

"I've been doing public health in Olmsted County since 1981," Edmonson said. "This is by far the worst season that I've run into."

A conservative estimate is that 100 to 200 people became ill during the outbreaks, Edmonson said, "and then many, many more in the community."

For the rest of the story, go here.

Maine Is Fighting Off Norovirus Outbreak

marler@marlerclark.com (Norovirus Attorney) — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 14:52:19 -0800

Maine is one of the places we'd think you could go to escape from a norovirus outbreak. Today, however, the Maine Center for Disease Control & Prevention announced the state was dealing with two outbreak concerns. It warned about the national Salmonella outbreak AND it announced the state is in the middle of its own Norovirus outbreak.

The Center reports there are at least 14 cases of a stomach flu known as norovirus gastroenteritis that have been reported in six Maine counties, Most cases are associated with long-term care facilities.

The symptoms are typically rapid onset of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramping. Low-grade fever, chills, muscle aches and headache may also occur. The virus lasts one to two days for most people, and dehydration is a common complication, the center said.

For more about Maine, go here.

Michigan Continues to Be A Hotspot For Norovirus

marler@marlerclark.com (Norovirus Attorney) — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 11:45:33 -0800

Norovirus is suspected of making a dozen people at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor sick. Tests to confirm that suspicion are underway.

According to the Ann Arbor News, a new business school cafeteria was cleaned and sanitized after seven food service workers and eight people who ate there reported becoming sick.

The cafeteria is in a new $145 million building at the Ross School of Business on the UM campus.

Nearby public restrooms and public spaces were also cleaned and sanitized before the new cafeteria was re-opened Tuesday.

Michigan has been hard-hit by norovirus this year. Go here for our last report.

Nearby public bathrooms and public spaces also were cleaned and sanitized.