Georgia - Norovirus cases 2013

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Norovirus invades Southwest Georgia

by Colby Gallagher
Posted: 12 mins ago

ALBANY, GA --
The Southwest Georgia Public Health Office is warning people about the oncoming Norovirus, a highly contagious two-to-three day stomach bug that is spreading around the area.

Epidemiologist Jacqueline Jenkins says the virus can spread very quickly and causes symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps.

Jenkins says the elderly and younger populations are most at risk for the virus and need to be careful of becoming dehydrated if they get sick.

More...

http://www.mysouthwestga.com/news/story.aspx?id=843438

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Re: Georgia - Norovirus cases 2013

<TABLE class=contentpaneopen><TBODY><TR><TD class=contentheading width="100&#37;">Fulton County Health Services Issues Warning About New Strain of Norovirus </TD><TD class=buttonheading width="100%" align=right>| </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=contentpaneopen><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top>
Over the last few weeks the Fulton County Department of Health and Wellness has investigated several outbreaks of gastrointestinal disease associated with food service establishments. For some of these events the department has documented that a new strain of norovirus that is spreading widely throughout the United States was the cause and that the virus had infected food service workers. These circumstances prompt the Department of Health and Wellness to issue advice on steps everyone, particularly food service establishments, can take to avoid this common and unpleasant gastrointestinal illness.

The most important step in controlling the spread of this virus is regular hand washing with soap and water.

Noroviruses are easily transmitted by touching a contaminated surface as well as by direct contact or by eating food or drinking liquids that have been contaminated with the virus. Noroviruses are notoriously difficult to kill with normal cleaning and disinfecting procedures. Surfaces that have been contaminated with stool or vomit should be cleaned immediately and disinfected with a freshly prepared diluted bleach solution or a bleach-based household cleaner.

Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramping. Some may have fever, chills, headache, muscle aches and a general sense of tiredness. The symptoms can begin suddenly and an infected person may go from feeling well to very sick in a very short period of time. In most people, the illness lasts for about one or two days. People infected with norovirus illness are contagious from the moment they begin feeling sick until at least three days after they recover.&#194; There is no specific treatment for norovirus. People infected with the virus should drink plenty of liquids to replace fluid lost through vomiting and diarrhea. Because of these circumstances the CDC recommends that employees of food service establishments remain vigilant in executing the following procedures:

&#183;&#194; &#194; &#194; Do not prepare food while sick or three days after the illness ends
&#183;&#194; &#194; &#194; Wash hands carefully and frequently with soap and water
&#183;&#194; &#194; &#194; Wash fruits and vegetables and cook shellfish thoroughly
&#183;&#194; &#194; &#194; Clean and disinfect kitchen utensils, counters, and surfaces that may have norovirus on them
&#183;&#194; &#194; &#194; Wash table linens, napkins, and other laundry thoroughly

For more information about norovirus, see the CDC Web site at http://www.cdc.gov/norovirus/.

http://www.fultoncountyga.gov/latest-news/5699-fulton-county-health-services-issues-warning-about-new-strain-of-norovirus

http://www.fultoncountyga.gov/latest-news

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Re: Georgia - Norovirus cases 2013

March 15, 2013

Almost 20 sickened; Public Health searching for cause

Alan Mauldin The Moultrie Observer

MOULTRIE ? Southwest Georgia Public Health is investigating an outbreak of illness that sickened a group of people who developed severe gastrointestinal symptoms within a relatively short time period after eating at the same Moultrie restaurant.
...
The cluster of less than 20 people whose illness is being investigated ate at the same restaurant Wednesday night as their last meal before they got sick, but also had been together at another location where they could have been infected prior to eating, said Carolyn Maschke, public information officer for the health district.

?We have a lot of norovirus in the district, in Georgia, and the symptoms are often mistaken for food poisoning,? she said. ?At this point it would be premature to say it?s food poisoning. We are definitely trying to find out what?s going on quickly so we can stop it from spreading.?

More...

http://moultrieobserver.com/local/x1221090305/Almost-20-sickened-Public-Health-searching-for-cause

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March 26, 2013

Sickness caused by norovirus

The Moultrie Observer
Mar 26, 2013, 02:23 PM EDT

MOULTRIE ? The Southwest Georgia Public Health District released a one-sentence statement on The Observer's Facebook page just before 2 p.m.:
"Results are in ... the culprit is NOROVIRUS."

Norovirus was one of the suspects in the illness of 22 people who got sick around the night of March 13...

Full text:

http://moultrieobserver.com/breakingnews/x1499313285/Sickness-caused-by-norovirus

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Re: Georgia - Norovirus cases 2013

Community wide outbreak of Norovirus affects Colquitt County

by Courtney Highfield
Posted: 03.27.2013 at 3:20 PM

MOULTRIE, GA --
Colquitt County is currently experiencing what health officials call a ?community-wide outbreak? of Norovirus.

Officials say at first they thought the Norovirus might have started at a fast food restaurant in the county but after thorough tests they concluded that no food operations were behind the outbreak.

Carolyn Maschke, the public information officer for the Southwest Georgia Public Health District office, said they are seeing cases of Norovirus all over the county including schools and day care centers.

More...

http://www.mysouthwestga.com/news/story.aspx?id=877438

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Re: Georgia - Norovirus cases 2013

Posted: 5:39 p.m. Monday, Nov. 18, 2013

Stomach virus strikes Fayette County rehabilitation facility

FAYETTE COUNTY, Ga. ?
A Fayette County rehabilitation facility has posted signs on the doors telling visitors to stay out while it deals with a stomach virus.

The Georgia Department of Public Health says about nine patients and staff at Kindred Transitional Care and Rehabilitation Lafayette have been stricken with a virus that causes diarrhea and vomiting. While lab results aren't back yet, the department says the process of elimination points to the norovirus.
...

http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/local/stomach-virus-strikes-fayette-county-rehabilitatio/nbxG4/