Alarming rise in cruise ship norovirus outbreaks despite cleaning

CHARLOTTE, SC — Only three months into 2010, there have already been eight cruise ship norovirus outbreaks — a startling number compared to the total 15 outbreaks last year, and one that cruise companies fear may set a trend for the months to come, according to USA Today.

According to the story, experts can’t confirm whether the outbreaks — four of which happened in one week — are coincidence or are indicative of something worse, such as the possibility that the virus may have changed to become more easily-spread or resistant to cleaning.

Dr. Claire Panosian, a clinical professor of infectious diseases at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California at Los Angeles, said: "It could be a blip or it could be a trend. It's too early to say."

The outbreaks are occurring despite cruise ships taking extra precautions to clean and disinfect, some even delaying the boarding to allow for additional cleaning time between groups of passengers, the story stated.

Royal Caribbean spokesperson Cynthia Martinez said: "In these situations, there will be heightened cleaning procedures being carried out throughout the ship during the entire sailing."

Norovirus is particularly difficult to eradicate because it can linger on surfaces like doorknobs, countertops and buffet tables and can sometimes even survive being cleaned with a bleach solution, the story noted.

The virus also has an incubation period, the story added.

School closes after suspected norovirus outbreak

MIDDLETOWN, RI — A private high school was forced to shut down for a week after 36 students and 11 staff members became sick in what appears to be a norovirus outbreak, according to the Associated Press.

According to the story, four students at St. George's School reported to the health center last week with symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea, and by Monday, dozens of students and faculty were ill.

The 365 students — most of whom live at the boarding school — were either sent home for the week or asked to spend the time with a host family, the story stated.

Head of School Eric Peterson said the week will be spent thoroughly disinfecting the school before the dormitories reopen Friday and classes resume Saturday, the story added.

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Hundreds sick after casino norovirus outbreak

CHEROKEE, NC — Harrah's Cherokee Casino and Hotel is cleaning its slot machines with bleach every two hours after an outbreak of norovirus, a highly contagious gastrointestinal virus whose eradication requires extensive cleaning of surfaces, that has left nearly 250 people sick, according to the Associated Press.

According to the story, the outbreak began on January 12 and has caused symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea in casino visitors.

In addition to cleaning the 3,300 slot machines, casino workers are also sanitizing door knobs, escalator handrails and restrooms on an hourly basis, the story stated.

David Bergmire-Sweat, a state epidemiologist, said that very few of the casino's 7,500 daily visitors have shown symptoms of norovirus.

Resort closed for cleaning after illness outbreak

OTTERTAIL, MN — Thumper Pond Resort and Restaurant underwent a voluntary close for deep cleaning after a number of people became ill with what appears to be norovirus, according to the Detroit Lakes Tribune.

According to the story, the resort performed a deep cleaning based on guidelines from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) designed to eradicate the virus, including draining and superchlorinating the pool and water park area, cleaning bathrooms and surfaces with products effective against the virus and ensuring no employee returns to work until 72 hours after resolution of symptoms.

The MDH received a number of complaints linked to the facility from December 19 through 31, all reporting flu-like symptoms associated with norovirus, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal cramps, the story stated.

Kelly Pilgrim, who became ill after her family visited the water park, said: "Until we know more, I want Thumper Pond have an opportunity to resolve the issue. It very possibly was not even their fault; something they were exposed to from outside."

MDH spokesman Doug Schultz said the facility has been working with the department to make sure the pathogens are out of the facility, the story added.

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Norovirus outbreak sickens hundreds

STATEN ISLAND, NY — About 250 students from Public School 3 stayed home from school yesterday after becoming ill with norovirus, a highly contagious gastrointestinal disease whose eradication requires extensive cleaning of surfaces, according to the Staten Island Advance.

Many students began vomiting and exhibiting other signs of norovirus while in class on Friday, prompting many to go home, the story stated.

Margie Feinberg, a U.S. Department of Education spokeswoman, said: "During the winter months, a virus called norovirus spreads easily among school children, causing vomiting and diarrhea. Most people get better in 1 to 2 days."

In a letter sent home with students, parents and guardians were told that the virus can spread through surfaces, such as handrails and doorknobs, by sharing food with someone with the virus or by eating foods or drinking liquids that are contaminated, the story noted.

According to the story, some parents of healthy children said they planned to keep their children home for several days to avoid catching the virus from their classmates.

There have been no reports of a norovirus outbreak at any other local schools and it is believed to be contained to Public School 3 at this time, the story added.

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Study links restroom cleanliness to norovirus outbreaks

BOSTON — A recent study found a link between improperly cleaned restrooms aboard cruise ships and the likelihood of an outbreak of norovirus, a highly contagious gastrointestinal infection whose eradication requires extensive cleaning of surfaces, according to the United Press International.

According to the story, the study by scientists from the Boston University School of Medicine, Carney Hospital, the Cambridge Health Alliance and the Tufts University School of Medicine is said to be the first environmental hygiene study aboard cruise ships.

Researchers inspected 273 randomly selected public restrooms aboard various ships and found only 37 percent were cleaned daily, the story stated.

The research, which appears in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases, found baby changing tables to be the least cleaned object in cruise ship restrooms, the story noted.

Researchers said they found the thoroughness of cleaning did not differ by cruise line and did not correlate with U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Vessel Sanitation Program inspection scores that averaged 97 out of a possible 100 points for the 273 study vessels, the story added.

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Sixteen sickened by norovirus

ORLANDO, FL — Just over a week ago, an outbreak of norovirus, a highly contagious gastrointestinal disease whose eradication requires extensive cleaning of surfaces, struck an assisted living center, according to WESH-TV.
During the outbreak, 16 residents at Emeritus at Crossing Pointe fell ill and several required hospitalization, the story stated.
According to the story, the Orange County Health Department confirmed yesterday that norovirus was the culprit that caused the residents to become sick.
The facility, which was closed for several days so it could be properly cleaned and sanitized by cleaning and maintenance crews, is open and operating again, the story noted.
It remains unclear whether or not the state of Florida will conduct a follow-up inspection of the nursing home, the story added.
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Norovirus prompts facility quarantine

WHITEHORSE, YK, Canada — MacAulay Lodge, an extended care facility, has been put under quarantine by Yukon health officials following an outbreak of norovirus, a highly contagious gastrointestinal infection whose eradication requires extensive cleaning of surfaces, according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

So far, 31 individuals have been sickened, including 19 residents and 12 staff members, the story stated.

Group activities have been suspended and confirmed infected residents are being confined to their rooms until their symptoms subside, the story noted.

The quarantine of MacAulay Lodge will remain in effect until all residents no longer show symptoms of the virus for at least two days, as the virus is still contagious for up to 48 hours after symptoms clear up, the story added.

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