Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Norovirus blamed for illness outbreak at upscale California hotel

 

In California the health authorities have determined that the norovirus, (which is highly contagious) caused about 60 people becoming ill in a very high-end hotel in the Bay Area. Robyn Thaw identified that the source of an outbreak was the norovirus which becomes a gastrointestinal problem. The norovirus part of the taxonomic family Caliciviridae and is a RNA virus. The norovirus cause diarrhea, vomiting and severe stomach cramps. The illness came about at a NAACP conference being held at the Hotel Sofitel. The norovirus is the leading cause for acute gastroenteritis in the United States. The norovirus has resulted in up to 71,000 hospitalizations and about 800 deaths in this country alone. While the way the outbreak is still unclear, health officials said that the food operations were dubbed not the cause of the norovirus. The investigation is still under way.





Norovirus causes 90% of epidemic nonbacterial outbreaks of gastroenteritis around the world, and may be responsible for 50% of all foodborne outbreaks of gastroenteritis in the United States. The virus is transmitted by fecal matter that has contaminated the food or water source or by human contact. By using reverse transition polymerase chain reaction the FDA can help detect the norovirus. The number one areas of where this virus can have massive outbreaks are closed or semiclosed communities. Some of these areas include cruise ships, hospitals and dormitories. The original name for this virus is “Norwalk agent” which came about from a town called Norwalk, in the United States were the children at an elementary school showed the outbreak of the acute gastroenteritis back in 1968.




I love reading and learning about all the different disease that are out there. It just amazes me how quickly and easily some of these viruses can spread from one host to the next. It gives a whole new meaning to “that’s been going around lately”.

 


Source article: http://newsdaily.com/2014/11/norovirus-blamed-for-illness-outbreak-at-upscale-california-hotel/



Support article: http://www.news-medical.net/health/Norovirus-What-is-Norovirus.aspx


    

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