Michigan - Norovirus cases 2013

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Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency
February 21, 2013
Contact: Steve Todd, Health Officer
517-279-9561, ext. 148
Jo Ann Wilczynski, Prevention Services Dir.
517-279-9561, ext. 143

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Stomach Flu Bug Got You Down?

Coldwater, MI. Suffering from stomach cramps, exhaustion, fever and chills? You got the bug going around. The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency is reporting an uptick in ?stomach flu? type ailments. Norovirus, a gastro-intestinal illness, may be the culprit.

Norovirus causes extreme diarrhea and vomiting. As its name suggests, this disease is caused by a virus. It is highly contagious and known to spread quickly in congregate areas, such as hospitals, nursing homes and schools. Symptoms of Norovirus may include a low-grade fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea.
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Read more:

http://www.bhsj.org/Publications/pressreleases/2013/02-February/Norovirus.pdf

http://www.bhsj.org/

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Re: Michigan - Norovirus cases 2013

FOR RELEASE: March 25, 2013 MEDIA CONTACT: Dori Peters (231) 724-1292
Public Health Improvement Specialist
petersdo@co.muskegon.mi.us

GI Illness Increasing in Muskegon County, Norovirus Circulating

Muskegon, MI ? Muskegon County has been experiencing an increase in reports of gastrointestinal (GI) illness, some of which have been confirmed as caused by Norovirus. Norovirus infections occur year round but tend to increase in cooler months. Public Health ? Muskegon County would like to ensure everyone stays healthy by sharing the following information.

Norovirus typically causes nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramping. Symptoms may also include low-grade fever, headache, fatigue and muscle aches. Symptoms may begin 12 to 48 hours after exposure.

Symptoms last about 1 to 2 days and, in most cases, ill persons get better on their own. Sometimes people need to see a health care provider mainly due to dehydration, with the very young and elderly at highest risk. Those with severe diarrhea should drink lots of liquids.

Norovirus is very contagious and can be easily spread through food, person-to-person contact, or by contaminated surfaces, especially in group settings. People can reduce their chance of getting infected by frequent hand washing using soap and warm running water for a minimum of 20 seconds (alcohol based hand sanitizers do NOT work against norovirus).

Preventing contamination of food, drinks, and surfaces are critical to prevent the spread of norovirus. Anyone with norovirus must not prepare or serve food for others for 3 days after symptoms have stopped. Spread of norovirus can also be reduced through prompt disinfection of contaminated surfaces with household chlorine bleach-based cleaners and prompt washing of soiled articles of clothing. Since the virus is passed in vomit and stool, children should not go to daycare or school while they have diarrhea or vomiting. Persons who work in nursing homes, take care of patients, or handle food should stay out of work until at least 2 to 3 days after symptoms end.

?People who work at a job preparing food for others need to be especially cautious,? said Ken Kraus, Public Health Director for Muskegon County.
?The virus is highly contagious and spreads very easily. Without meaning to, a sick food handler can easily contaminate the food and cause an outbreak.?

Muskegon County restaurants are reminded that if an employee becomes ill with norovirus, they are to be excluded from the establishment and the local health department must be notified for consultation per the 2009 FDA Food Code. Restaurants with concerns are encouraged to call the Food Service Sanitation program at (231) 724-4406. Information about norovirus, including cleaning and disinfection guidance can be found on the public health department?s website at www.muskegonhealth.net.

http://www.muskegonhealth.net/news/130325_norovirus.pdf

http://www.muskegonhealth.net/news/news.htm

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Re: Michigan - Norovirus cases 2013

A Rise In the Number Of Sick People From Norovirus In West Michigan

2 hours ago
by Dave Spencer
Reporter

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Norovirus, commonly misdiagnosed as the stomach-flu, is hitting parts of West Michigan hard right now.

Health professionals at the Muskegon County and Kent County health departments say the virus is highly contagious and is passed from person to person rather easily.
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Lisa LaPlante with the Kent County Health Department said, ?Abdominal cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, these are some of the typical symptoms that you will see. The onset will be quick and the symptoms will alleviate in 48 hours.?

Unfortunately, the number of reported cases in West Michigan along with the rest of the state are on the rise.

?We?ve actually noticed a really big increase in the last week,? said LaPlante.

Read more: http://fox17online.com/news/stories/...#ixzz2OnaE87YC

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Re: Michigan - Norovirus cases 2013

Norovirus outbreak closes North Muskegon schools for rest of the week

By Lynn Moore | lmoore8@mlive.com
on April 10, 2013 at 4:23 PM, updated April 10, 2013 at 11:53 PM

NORTH MUSKEGON, MI -- An outbreak of norovirus, a nasty and extremely contagious stomach bug, has resulted in the cancellation of classes at North Muskegon Public Schools on Thursday and Friday.
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Thirty-five students called in sick Wednesday with symptoms of norovirus, said Ken Kraus, director of Public Health - Muskegon County. By 11 a.m., another 35 students became ill at school, Kraus said. Most of the students were elementary students, he said.

In all, about 100 students were sickened by norovirus, Babock said in a press release. The district has a little less than 1,000 students.
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http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2013/04/norovirus_outbreak_closes_nort.html

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Re: Michigan - Norovirus cases 2013

200 Sickened By Norovirus At ?Tough Mudder? Event

July 5, 2013 5:34 PM
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The Michigan Department of Community Health says they received call after call from spectators and participants of the ?Tough Mudder? competition ? which involves people running and crawling through mud, along with jumping over logs and other obstacles.

The callers, numbers more than 200, complained about ?gastrointestinal symptoms,? after the event held in Brooklyn, Mich. June 30-31.

On Friday, officials said lab tests have confirmed that norovirus was the culprit.
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Officials say norovirus outbreaks are common. Since January 1, 2013, 119 suspected outbreaks of norovirus have been reported in Michigan.

Anyone who attended the Tough Mudder event who has questions about norovirus should contact their local health department. More information on norovirus is available from the state at this link.
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Full text:

http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2013/07/05/200-sickened-by-norovirus-at-tough-mudder-event/

See also:

http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=208453