Outbreak of norovirus reported in Yellowstone National Park

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Outbreak of suspected norovirus reported in Yellowstone

JODI HAUSEN, Chronicle Staff Writer
Posted: Thursday, June 13, 2013 12:15 am

About 30 people in Yellowstone National Park have contracted a severe gastrointestinal illness that is suspected to be norovirus.

Though samples have been sent to a lab, results confirming the highly contagious virus have not yet been returned, park spokesman Al Nash said Wednesday.

Most of the sick people are concessions employees at Mammoth Hot Springs who probably got sick when they came into contact with visitors from two tour buses that came into the park on June 6 and June 9, Nash said.

More...

http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/health/article_6a3190b0-d3ed-11e2-adc1-001a4bcf887a.html

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Re: Outbreak of suspected norovirus reported in Yellowstone National Park

Norovirus visits YNP, brought in on tour bus

By Mike Koshmrl, Jackson Hole, Wyoming
June 14, 2013
...
Thought to have been brought in by visitors, the vomit and diarrhea-inducing bug peaked last weekend and has infected 30 people so far, Yellowstone spokesman Al Nash said.

?We had a couple of tour buses that came into the Mammoth area late last week, and some of the members were ill with some kind of a gastrointestinal virus,? Nash said Thursday...

Because of the unusual number of sick people, Yellowstone staff and Xanterra personnel decided to treat the bug as if it were norovirus...

Turns out, Yellowstone officials? hunch was right. The park submitted cultures to a lab to have them tested, and they came back positive.

?They confirmed our suspicions,? Nash said, ?indeed it was norovirus.?
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http://www.jhnewsandguide.com/article.php?art_id=9965

[Shiloh]

Re: Outbreak of norovirus reported in Yellowstone National Park

Source: http://www.mybighornbasin.com/Illnes...stone/16631154


Illness spreads in Yellowstone
by: Ruffin Prevost

A highly contagious, flu-like virus that causes stomach pain, vomiting, and diarrhea has sickened an estimated 200 people in Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, prompting park officials to take extra precautions in stemming its spread.

Park officials suspect a tour group that arrived in Mammoth Hot Springs on June 7 may be responsible for introducing a norovirus among park employees and concessions workers, according to a statement released Wednesday by the National Park Service...

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Re: Outbreak of norovirus reported in Yellowstone National Park

Parks Take Proactive Measures To Stem Spread of Gastrointestinal Illness

Date: June 19, 2013

National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Yellowstone National Park
P.O. Box 168
Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190
Al Nash or Dan Hottle
(307) 344-2015
Grand Teton National Park
P.O. Box 170
Moose, WY 83012
Jackie Skaggs
(307) 739-3393

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 19, 2013
------------------------------------------------------------------------
YELLOWSTONE/GRAND TETON NEWS RELEASE
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Parks Take Proactive Measures To Stem Spread of GI Illness

The National Park Service is urging visitors to northwestern Wyoming to be vigilant about hand washing while on vacation, due to greater-than-normal reports of gastrointestinal (GI) illness in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks and areas outside the national parks in Montana.
On June 7, several members of a tour group arrived in Mammoth Hot Springs complaining of stomach flu and other GI symptoms. Within 48 hours, numerous employees, whose jobs place them in direct contact with visitors, reported similar symptoms. Tests conducted on some of the sick visitors and employees came back positive for norovirus, the most common cause of acute gastroenteritis in the U.S.

Over the past week, additional cases of GI illness among visitors and employees have been reported at both national parks. To-date, those reports include over 100 suspected cases of norovirus among employees in Yellowstone and about 50 suspected cases among employees in Grand Teton. Fifty visitors also went to medical clinics within Yellowstone with symptoms of gastrointestinal illness.

While only a small percentage of people have been affected, the National Park Service and all the businesses serving park visitors have instituted a variety of precautions intended to limit the spread of the virus. These include increased cleaning and disinfection of all public areas including stores, gift shops, restaurants, and lodging facilities, and isolation of potentially infected employees until they have been symptom-free for at least 72 hours.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 21-million people in the United States contract norovirus every year. Norovirus is usually not serious. Most people get better in 1 to 2 days. Symptoms include stomach pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. This very contagious virus can be contracted by direct contact with an infected individual, by touching surfaces contaminated with norovirus, or by consuming contaminated food or drink.

Frequent hand washing with soap is the best way for individuals to limit their chance of contracting this virus. Wash hands carefully, especially after using the bathroom or changing diapers, and always before eating or preparing food. Alcohol- based sanitizers are not a substitute for soap and water, but serve as a temporary measure if soap and water are not available.

For more information, visit http://www.cdc.gov/norovirus/ .

http://www.nps.gov/yell/parknews/06192013.htm

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Re: Outbreak of norovirus reported in Yellowstone National Park

Park visitor complains norovirus info lacking

By Ben Graham, Jackson Hole, Wyoming
June 22, 2013

A man who has been staying at the Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone National Park is upset that he wasn?t warned Monday when he checked in about a norovirus outbreak that has infected dozens of visitors and workers at the park in recent weeks.

Two of his family members came down with symptoms of the illness two days ago during their stay.

Louis Greenwald, of Illinois, said there were no signs in the lobby. He didn?t find out about the presence of the illness until he picked up a newspaper, he said.

?If you?re walking into an establishment and you?re paying $1,000 a day and they know there?s a problem, they should tell you there?s a problem,? Greenwald said. ?There?s all kinds of signs around the park saying be careful of wildlife.?

There should be signs about an illness being passed around, too, he said.
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http://www.jhnewsandguide.com/article.php?art_id=9990