Flu, norovirus, chicken pox spread misery

What makes people more miserable than a spring snowstorm? A lingering invasion of the flu and norovirus and the onset of chicken-pox season.

In recent weeks, Montana went red on the flu map published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Officials at Flathead City-County Health Department say the flu peaked here in late February.

"Our peak weeks ended Feb. 17 and Feb. 24," public health nurse Allison Bishop said. As part of her duties, Bishop collects numbers each week of positive cases reported to the state lab, positive quick tests and cases clinically diagnosed by health-care providers.

She noted a drop in the week ending March 3, an increase the next week followed by a drop in the March 17 reports. Although she hadn't completed her report Friday, Bishop said those providers surveyed by midday continued the trend of fewer flu cases.

"It looks a lot lower," she said. "But we still have flu here."

Lake County reported 41 confirmed cases in the four weeks prior to March 16. At least as many untested household members reported the same symptoms, according to a Lake County Health Department memorandum.

Influenza remains widespread across the state, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. Montana joined 19 other states coded red for flu contagion.

According to Bishop, 96 percent of Montana flu cases were type A, the most virulent variety.

Most of those who followed advice to have a flu shot dodged the symptoms which include fever, headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose and muscle aches and, mostly in children, vomiting and diarrhea.

Health officials have no vaccine but only advice to offer against the highly contagious norovirus once again rampaging through the state.

Bishop said more than 500 cases came from a dance contest attended by more than 1,800 people on March 9 in Billings. Two of those norovirus victims were hospitalized.

The Flathead Valley also has documented cases of norovirus.

"We've had reports of clusters in health-care facilities," she said, including hospitals and nursing homes.

Norovirus victims might confuse symptoms with the flu that attacks the respiratory system. A gastrointestinal bug, norovirus causes nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramping, low-grade fever, chills, headache, muscle aches and tiredness.

Hoping to stem the spread of norovirus, the health department placed ads advising the public how to protect themselves by washing hands often and mixing one-third cup of bleach in a gallon of water as a hard-surface disinfectant.

Health officials recommend using the bleach mixture on doorknobs, faucets, sinks, toilets, commodes, bathrails, phones, counters, chairs, tables, hand rails and light switches - anywhere hands go.

For food preparation areas, Bishop recommends cleaning surfaces with detergent and rinsing. Then disinfect with a solution of one tablespoon of bleach to a gallon of water.

No treatment exists for norovirus except measures to keep victims hydrated.

For flu, doctors may prescribe antiviral medication to reduce the duration of the illness.

Anyone who has questions about these illnesses should call the health department at 751-8110.

Bishop also asks that people use the same number to alert the department to any cases of chicken pox.

According to Bishop, the disease was classified as "reportable" last fall in an effort to track cases. She wants to spread the word to the public to call about mild or severe cases of chicken pox.

Some cases already have been reported. Chicken pox normally appears here in late winter or early spring.

Reporter Candace Chase may be reached at 758-4436 or by e-mail at cchase@dailyinterlake.com