The Rhode Island Department of Health (HEALTH) advises people that there has been an increase in the number of laboratory-confirmed norovirus outbreaks in the state. HEALTH regularly investigates reports of norovirus clusters in licensed facilities and investigates illness complaints associated with food establishments or other licensed facilities. Since January 1, five long-term care facilities and three schools have reported noro-like illness. HEALTH laboratories have confirmed norovirus in four of these facilities. (Results from two institutions are pending.) In addition, HEALTH has investigated reports of noro-like illness at three food establishments and confirmed norovirus at one establishment.
“Norovirus is a common illness, and like H1N1, frequent handwashing with warm water and soap or an alcohol hand gel is essential to stop the spread of the illness,” said Director of Health David R. Gifford, MD, MPH. “When there was increased H1N1 illness, there was not any norovirus illness. Rhode Islanders must continue to be vigilant about handwashing to prevent the spread of norovirus, H1N1 and many other illnesses.”
To prevent the spread of norovirus: *Wash hands with soap and warm water after going to the bathroom or changing a diaper. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand gel. *If you are sick, do not touch ready-to-eat food with your bare hands. In a food establishment, utensils or gloves are required to be used for handling ready-to-eat foods. *If you are a food handler, a healthcare worker or a daycare worker who has symptoms of norovirus, report the illness to your employer, go home and stay out of work until 48 hours after symptoms have stopped. *Thoroughly clean and sanitize surfaces after someone is sick with norovirus. Use a bleach-based household cleaner. Wash and wipe down the toilet area, faucets and other hard surfaces with a mixture of one tablespoon of bleach to 3 cups of water. If cleaning up vomit or stool, use two tablespoons of bleach to 1 cup water. *Dispose sewage properly. *Avoid eating raw shellfish. (The water it came from could be contaminated with norovirus from raw sewage in the water.)
Norovirus is a common viral illness that is spread from hand to mouth. Symptoms usually last 24-48 hours and include nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. For information about norovirus, visit http://www.health.ri.gov/disease/communicable/norovirusfactsheet.php.