A recent cruise ship Norovirus infection has caught a great deal of media attention. According to a recent USAToday.com article by Gene Sloan entitled “Celebrity Postpones Cruise out of Charleston after Major Outbreak of Illness,” the departure of the Celebrity Mercury ship has been postponed. The ship docked in South Carolina with over 400 people suffering from Norovirus.
Norovirus can be found in many different places. An ABC Florida news station, WCJB posted an online news article describing how two Florida retirement communities are battling norovirus. According to the author Nadeen Yanes, in an article entitled “Norovirus Spreads Through Two Retirement Communities,” the Alachua County Health Department was investigating the spread of Norovirus through both The Atrium and The Oak Hammock retirement communities.
Based on a Norivirus Q&A webpage from the Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Norovirus is highly contagious. In order to clean surfaces contaminated by the virus, one must disinfect with bleach. The virus is carried in both vomit and diarrhea, therefore any items with which these two substances have come in contact must be cleaned with bleach. Clothes must be cleaned in hot water with detergent. Retirement communities, daycares, and assisted living facilities can be sources of great concern with respect to Norovirus. First, young children and the elderly may have a more difficult time recuperating from this normally mild form of stomach illness, especially if they are ill or have weak immune systems. In addition to diarrhea and vomiting, dehydration can be a concern. Secondly, since the infection is also spread through contact with vomit or diarrhea, workers in assisted living facilities who clean patients and aid them when they are sick must take great care. Contaminated foods and beverages can also lead to infection. Therefore, proper sanitary precautions when feeding individuals and fixing their meals are needed. Daycare workers who change the diapers of young children and assist them while they eat must also take precautions to prevent the spread of Norovirus. Areas should be cleaned regularly with bleach. Sheets and other clothing should also be washed as soon as they are soiled. In addition, hand washing is a must. Remember, norovirus is particularly tricky because an individual can remain contagious for up to two weeks after recovery in some cases.
Richard J. Arsenault, 2010
