Caution Urged After Norovirus Outbreak
Pastor Dale Morgan
Caution Urged After Norovirus Outbreak*
By Margaret Morton
(Created: Friday, January 19, 2007 12:42 PM EST)
The Loudoun County Department of Health is cautioning residents who have
heard of the recent outbreak in Fairfax County of the highly contagious
norovirus to use the same precautions as they would to prevent catching
the flu.
"I'm not aware of any dangers specifically related to the Hilton,"
Loudoun Health Department Director Dr. David Goodfriend, referring to
the 100 guests and employees who became sick yesterday at the hotel near
Dulles Airport.
Sometimes called "the cruise ship virus," norovirus is easily spread by
surface touch. It can be directly, or indirectly, passed.
"You get it on your hands-maybe you touched a banister or a wall that an
infected person has already touched or you shook hands-then you touch
your eye or your mouth," he said. Or, the virus can be spread in a
restaurant, through food handling or by an infected waitperson touching
utensils or crockery.
The good news is that most healthy people just suffer through the
unpleasant symptoms of nausea, diarrhea and vomiting for two to three
days and don't need to see a doctor or hospital, according to
Goodfriend. He is more concerned for those who are more at risk,
including the frail or elderly or infants, who can get severely
impacted. In a large facility, such as a jail, a cruise ship or hotel,
the virus is hard to get rid of because the whole building has to be
completely disinfected, he said.
Since the virus first sickened elementary school-aged children in
Norwalk, OH, in 1968, the country has seen outbreaks each year,
including recent outbreaks in Northern Virginia. "It's not uncommon,"
Goodfriend said, noting it's often also called the "winter vomiting
disease."
The best way for individuals to protect themselves is to constantly wash
their hands, using the waterless hand sanitizers, Goodfriend advised. If
individuals do get it and feel sick, "stay at home, so you won't spread
it," was Goodfriend's advice.