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http://www.jhnewsandguide.com/graphics/hed-jhdaily.gif Valley sees norovirus By Johanna Love, Jackson Hole, Wyoming July 14, 2011 Wash your hands. That’s the only thing certain to help prevent the spread of norovirus, a gastrointestinal malady that is sweeping the valley, Teton County Public Health officials said Wednesday. An individual who became ill June 23 reported it to public health, Response Coordinator Tammy Marshall said. A physician reported another several cases of gastroenteritis the next day, prompting an investigation. On June 29, public health received confirmation that the clusters of illness were norovirus. Marshall hesitated to offer a specific number of cases, since many of them were not officially reported. “Widespread activity” is happening in Jackson, Teton Village and the neighboring national parks, she said. “It’s kind of known as the summer diarrhea,” she said. “I do believe activity this summer is higher.” According to Wyoming law, food service workers who have been vomiting or had diarrhea are barred from working for 72 hours after their symptoms cease, Marshall said. Those same guidelines should apply to day care or health care workers, she said. If your child is sick, keep her home, she said. If you are sick, stay home. Wash hands, and disinfect the bathroom and toilet with bleach. “Those are really the only infection-control measures we have,” Marshall said. Norovirus is spread through the feces and vomit of people infected. It’s a hardy virus that lives on environmental surfaces for a long time, she said. “If there’s vomiting involved, it also aerosolizes,” Marshall said. “It’s not just the fecal-oral route we always hear about.” Cruise ships are notorious for the virus even after a thorough cleaning, Marshall said. “It is very difficult to contain once it’s present in the environment,” she said. In the valley now, outbreaks are not limited to an age group or type of business, Marshall said. “It’s not limited to a specific demographic,” she said. “It’s pretty much across the board. We’ve gotten reports on residents and visitors. It’s been reported in the park, in Jackson, in the village, the whole area.” Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramping. Sometimes people experience low-grade fever, chills, headache, muscle aches and fatigue. Illness often begins suddenly, and the infected person may feel very sick. The illness is usually brief, with symptoms lasting about one or two days. The main danger is dehydration. Antibiotics do not work against viruses; however, if illness lasts more than 72 hours, or if a person finds blood in his or her stool, that could indicate a more serious bacterial infection, and one might want to seek medical attention, officials said. People infected with norovirus are contagious from the moment that they begin feeling ill to at least three days after recovery, Marshall said. Some people may be contagious for as long as two weeks after recovery. I'm posting this as an advisory: My wife is nervous that some of us will not come because of this report. She is a registered nurse (retired) & says just like the article says wash your hands & keep them out of your eyes & mouth. C Ya All There, Graderman46:lightbulb:
