02 January 2014 (01:09 UTC-07 Tango)/29 Safar 1435/12 Dey 1392/02 Gui-Chou (12th month) 4711
California, U.S.A.: In Walnut Creek, a Rehab center is the center of a tummy bug outbreak. At least 30 staff and patients have been sickened. Public health officials say the rehabilitation center took quick action, including notifying local government officials.
Connecticut, U.S.A.: Saint Francis Hospital in Hartford reporting an uptick in cases. Doctors indicated the problem is that people are confusing the symptoms with influenza. Norovirus causes vomiting and diarrhea for several days. This is not caused by influenza.
Florida, U.S.A.: The Royal Caribbean ship Oasis of the Seas reported an outbreak of gastroenteritis. They did not indicate how many passengers were sick.
Iowa, U.S.A.: Several grade schools have been warning parents of norovirus cases.
Kansas, U.S.A.: The state Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Lodging is investigating Jimmy John’s sandwich delivery/restaurant for spreading norovirus. At least 110 people are sick. State officials say employees of Jimmy John’s are helping with state investigators. This case follows an Ecoli case in Colorado, which was traced back to a Denver Jimmy John’s, back in November 2013.
Michigan, U.S.A.: Doctors in Genesee County are reporting upticks in tummy bug cases. Doctors pointed out there is no vaccine for norovirus, but they erroneously told infected people to wash their hands without specifying what they should wash their hands with. (it makes a big difference, see below)
Missouri, U.S.A.: Doctors at Barnes-Jewish Hospital warning of increasing stomach bug cases.
Nevada, U.S.A.: Back in December at least five Las Vegas High Schools had to be scrubbed because of suspected norovirus outbreaks: “Your child’s school conducted extra cleaning today following a report that recent visitors to campus contracted the norovirus while visiting Las Vegas. While the source of the norovirus is not known, we wanted to be proactive and take extra efforts to sanitize our facilities.”-automated robo-call sent to parents
North Carolina, U.S.A.: Health and Human Service’s Department warning that the version of norovirus (aka Norwalk virus, Caliciviridae, viral gastroenteritis, stomach flu, tummy bug, vomiting bug) spreading in their state is GII.4 Sydney. In the past, main streamer TV news have reported that a small fraction of people who get sick will die, but in recent years the number of people who die from norovirus have shot up.
South Carolina, U.S.A.: Despite warnings from North Carolina, South Carolina’s Department of Health and Environmental Control doesn’t expect norovirus cases to skyrocket this winter. That’s because, so far, local health care centers are not reporting any number of cases that are considered above ‘normal’ for winter.
Wisconsin, U.S.A.: Madison and Dane County officials reporting “sporadic” cases. Epidemiologist Amanda Kita-Yarbro explained that there is no U.S. regulation requiring the public tracking or notification of norovirus cases, so the actual number of cases is probably higher than we think!
Ireland: The National Immunisation Advisory Committee is pushing for mandatory oral rotavirus vaccine for infants. Rotavirus also causes gastroenteritis. Keep in mind this panel of ‘experts’ are also pushing to vaccinate homosexual men against the HPV, which is considered a cause of cervical cancer in women!
Tochigi Prefecture, Japan: 118 people sickened at the Kinugawa Gyoen Hotel in Nikko City. Health officials say that besides the 118 people sickened, eleven hotel kitchen personnel were found to have norovirus in their bodies. You can carry norovirus without knowing it. Apparently the hotel customers got sick directly from the kitchen personnel, because investigations found that it didn’t matter what type of food the customers ate.
England, United Kingdom: Weston General Hospital reporting a suspected outbreak of vomiting bug. Visitation is restricted, because of a “high number of cases”. Several hospitals restricted visitation in Hampshire County, due to outbreaks. And in Lancaster, ward 34 at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary is closed to visitation.
North Wales, United Kingdom: Reports say Wrexham Maelor Hospital is still in lockdown because of a vomiting bug outbreak. New patients are being sent to other health centers.
Scotland, United Kingdom: The latest reports say at least seven wards in four hospitals were lockdown due to outbreaks.
If you notice, most norovirus outbreaks in the United Kingdom take place in hospitals.
The U.K. Food Standards Authority want sick people to tell them what color their throw up is. It’s a new twitter program that officials think will help them track specific tummy bug infections.
Norovirus is a surface contact bug, meaning you pick it up by touching or eating it. I still see reports from local U.S. news media connecting norovirus prevention to flu vaccines, as I wrote last year, it is not influenza and there is still no vaccine for fast evolving RNA norovirus. The only ‘treatment’ is to keep the sick person hydrated.
Exotic anti-biotic soaps can’t kill norovirus, or any other virus for that matter, because anti-biotics are only for bacteria. Despite that, even hand ‘sanitizers’ made with alcohol can’t totally get rid of norovirus. Guess what apparently works: According to the U.S. CDC old fashioned hand soap is best. Consumer Reports says to leave the soap on your hands for a minimum of 20 seconds. Also, in public restrooms use a paper towel to turn off the faucet and to open the door, do not touch surfaces with your bare hands after washing them (time to wear those Michael Jackson gloves you’ve been hiding).
Wash household surfaces with bleach.
The worse thing is that you can be infected and not have any symptoms. An infected person can spread norovirus, yet not feel sick themselves. If you think you might be infected do not cook food for other people. People recovering from traditional symptoms of norovirus can continue spreading the bug for days after feeling better (some reports say weeks).