Elton John canceled a Friday night U.S. concert at the last minute, because he’s sick with stomach bug!
In Warwickshire, England U.K., the Red Cross was called out to deal with two bus loads of 90 French exchange students sick, possibly with norovirus. The buses were at the Warwick Hospital. After admitting four of the students, the hospital staff realized there would be no room at the inn because so many were sick, so they called in the Red Cross to set up tents and provide camp-beds, blankets, inflatable pillows and hygiene packs.
Speaking of England, the Queen is out of the hospital but that doesn’t mean she’s out-a-the woods: “The queen continues to make a good recovery following her recent illness, and today she presented the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry and held a series of audiences. However, regrettably, she will no longer attend the Tech City engagement planned for tomorrow, or the Soldiers’ and Airmen’s Scriptures Association Service at the Guards Chapel on Thursday…..The queen hopes to resume her program of official engagements next week.”
Also, a British boxer almost canceled a fight, but like many ‘mericans he went to work sick: “It was horrendous. I was not well in the build-up, I picked up a stomach bug the day before the fight and I spent most of the day of the fight on the toilet……I had sold a lot of tickets and had a lot of people to please and didn’t want to let them down.”-Dan Woodgate, he won the fight
On 12 March in the United States, Texas Ranger outfielder, Craig Gentry, was taken off the lineup because of stomach bug.
Around the World, many Football clubs (that’s soccer in the U.S.) are dealing with sick players.
In Netherlands, a new study says norovirus can survive pesticides, and is probably even spread by the bug poison! The study was inspired by other studies that showed a strong connection between norovirus and vegetables (one U.S. study says 50% of produce have norovirus!). The Dutch researchers diluted norovirus in eight different types of pesticides, the virus survived in all eight. The study, published in the International Journal of Food Microbiology, concludes that the possible source of norovirus on vegetables is coming from the pesticides that are routinely sprayed on industrial scale crops!
In Oregon U.S.A., an upscale restaurant (most dinners starting out at $18 per person) has been hit with norovirus, for the second time in 11 months. Amazingly the owners of Adina Restaurant did not know about the April 2012 outbreak linked to their eatery! County health officials say this latest outbreak began the 1st of March, and so far involves 27 people reporting illness. On Monday, 11 March, the owners were ordered by the county to get an additional refrigerator, because it turns out the employees were storing cooked meats with raw meats due to a lack of refrigerators! Last year the upscale restaurant was warned about their refrigerator being too warm to prevent bacterial growth.
In an update on another upscale restaurant, Noma in Denmark, it turns out that restaurant staff and owners possibly ignored emailed warnings from the local health inspectors. Health officials are blaming the outbreak, in the restaurant with the longest reservation waiting list in the world, on an employee. Between 63 and 67 people reported getting sick back in February. The employee is considered a carrier of norovirus, which means they show no symptoms of the disease.
In Indiana U.S.A., parents are being warned after an increase in sick children at the Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital, mainly with dehydration: “We’re seeing a fair amount of kids over the past month or so.”-David Zipes
More than 25% of the residents at Carillon at Boulder Creek retirement community, in Colorado U.S.A., are sick. 14 employees are sick as well: “Since Friday, they’ve been implementing control measures to stop the spread of the illness. The facility has been handling it appropriately….”-Carol Helwig, Boulder County health official
In Danville, Virginia U.S.A., medical personnel report a 10% increase in reported cases in the past week.
More cruise ships getting hit with stomach bug. Princess Cruises’ Ruby Princess in the Caribbean, and Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth in the Pacific are the latest to report sick passengers.
In Scotland U.K., yet another hospital closing its doors to visitors. The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh has closed six wards. At least 100 patients sick, along with an undisclosed number of employees.
In Canada, provincial health officials have confirmed vomiting bug outbreak across Prince Edward Island (PEI), possibly linked to the Rodd Mill River Resort. Health officials don’t blame the resort, they suspect that the first people to get sick were actually sick before they arrived, and spread it to others.
I have some advise for anyone sick with the vomiting bug: Unless you’re at deaths door don’t go to your local hospital ER. One of my daughters was recently sick with stomach bug, and she went to a hospital in Boise, Idaho U.S.A. She wasn’t sick enough to be admitted, but sat in the ER for six hours. She just received the bill; $3000 USD!!! (yes, despite Obama/Romney Care we in the U.S. must still fork out big bucks for even the piddliest health care)
I’ll say again what I’ve posted in earlier reports, and what I tried to explain to my daughter: There is no treatment for norovirus, there is no cure for norovirus, there is no vaccination for norovirus! Most people who go to hospital with norovirus are treated for dehydration. Why spend thousands of dollars for that?