Health officials issue norovirus alert

Flathead City-County Health Department officials have issued an alert that norovirus cases continue to climb in the Flathead Valley.

County Health Officer Joe Russell said Friday that his department has received numerous calls about gastrointestinal illness involving nausea, vomiting and diarrhea — symptoms of norovirus.

Russell said the department had at least one case of norovirus confirmed by lab testing. He said the virus normally is diagnosed solely by symptoms.

He was particularly concerned that food handlers who become ill heed the warning and wait two to three days after all symptoms cease before returning to work.

“Getting norovirus in food handlers could really elevate the problem,” he said.

The virus can be spread in contaminated food or water or by direct contact between people or with contaminated surfaces. Russell added that caregivers also need to make certain they wait two to three days before returning to work following a bout of gastrointestinal illness.

“If norovirus gets into a nursing home environment, it could be devastating,” he said. “It’s pretty contagious.”

In a press release, the department recommends that people:

n Wash hands thoroughly and frequently with soap and water, especially after using the bathroom, changing diapers, caring for an ill person, before eating and before preparing food.

n Stay home when ill.

n Wait 48 to 72 hours after symptoms end before visiting anyone in the hospital, nursing-care facility or assisted living or at home due to a medical condition.

n Wait 48 to 72 hours before preparing or sharing food outside the household such as a group gathering or bake sale.

n Clean environmental surfaces with the appropriate cleaner or bleach solution.

The health department’s Web site, www.flatheadhealth.org, has several helpful links available by clicking the health alerts button. One link provides a printable poster for the refrigerator that has formulas for preparing bleach solutions.

Those formulas are:

n Hard surface disinfecting: 1/3 cup of bleach in one gallon of water for doorknobs, faucets, sinks, toilets, telephones, tables, chairs, light switches and other touched areas.

n Kitchen/food surface disinfecting: 1.5 tablespoons of bleach per gallon of  water. Surfaces must be cleaned thoroughly with detergent and rinsed with water prior to disinfecting with the bleach solution.

Another link accesses the Centers for Disease Control’s fact page on norovirus. According to this page, symptoms of norovirus may include low-grade fever, chills, headache, muscle aches and general tiredness along with nausea, stomach cramping, vomiting and diarrhea.

According to the CDC, children commonly come down with diarrhea while adults more often vomit when infected with the virus. The illness often begins suddenly with the victim feeling very sick for one to two days.

For more information, call the Flathead City-County Health Department at 751-8101.

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