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Health Alert: Norovirus Outbreak

Posted: July 1, 2008
To: Long Term Care / Residential Care Facilities/Infection Control Nurses
Cc: Please Share with Medical and Administrative Directors
From: Disease Control Unit - Sonoma County Department of Health Services (565-4567)

This alert is to advise you of a gastrointestinal disease outbreak caused by norovirus currently circulating in our community. The outbreak involves several long term care and residential facilities. Public Health has been working closely with these facilities to help disrupt the spread of the virus. Below is information that briefly outlines what to do in an outbreak; adherence to the guidelines must be strict in order to limit the spread of the virus.

Measures that you can take to help avoid illness are:

• Limit the number of staff shared with other facilities.
• Notify facilities receiving transfers from you if you have any symptomatic patients at your facility and check about facilities transferring patients to you.
• Screen and limit visitors who may be ill.
• Do not allow staff to return to work until 48 hours after symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea have stopped.
• Clean handrails, door knobs, and other common areas well.
• Use frequent hand washing with soap and water. Unfortunately, hand sanitizers do not work against norovirus.
• Consider limiting congregate activities, including bus transportation to/from community functions.
• If you have 1 or 2 staff/residents ill, you should implement all the measures listed in the State guidelines. Go to website listed below and/or call Public Health.

For detailed instructions on containing an outbreak visit the California State website at: Control of viral gastroenteritis outbreaks in California long-term care facilities (pdf).

Please notify us immediately at the first signs of gastroenteritis illness at your facility by calling 565-4567.

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