Metro Detroit area hit by norovirus outbreaks

International Society for Infectious Diseases ^ | 17 Jan 2003

[UKCajun]

A virus grabbing headlines for sickening hundreds of passengers on cruise ships is hitting Metro Detroit. Emergency room workers at Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak were busy over the weekend handling an increase in norovirus infection cases, Dr Frank McGeorge said.

See also:

USA: suspected norovirus outbreak at high school in Texas More than 700 students at Cypress Creek High School were absent or sent home on Friday in what may be an outbreak of norovirus infection, the illness notorious for plaguing passengers aboard cruise ships.

Canada: current and previous suspected norovirus outbreaks on Via Rail trains Via Rail said yesterday 3 more people who are now in Ontario are affected by suspected norovirus infection. 26 passengers were reported ill when the train arrived in Vancouver from the east last weekend.

USA: Norovirus outbreaks in care facilities across New York state The virus responsible for sickening cruise ship passengers appears to have made its way to the Southern Tier. A Steuben County nursing home and health care facilities across [New York] state are reporting cases of norovirus infection, which causes vomiting and diarrhea. It was reported also at the Waters of Three Rivers nursing home in Gang Mills. The number of cases was not disclosed.

State and local health officials say they suspect the virus is widespread.

[UKCajun]

Very suspicious...

[Support Free Republic]

Keep Free Republic Rockin' 'Round The Clock!
	Donate Here By Secure Server Or mail checks to FreeRepublic , LLC PO BOX 9771 FRESNO, CA 93794 or you can use PayPal at Jimrob@psnw.com
STOP BY AND BUMP THE FUNDRAISER THREAD

[Ragirl]

This is scary. Looks like a test for something much worse down the road. My son's high school (in the Detroit area) has an outbreak as well. thanks for the info.

[UKCajun]

Just think if that virus were genetically modified!!!!

A warning shot from Dr. Germ????

[per loin]

Very likely to spread widely in a third world city like Detroit. The CDC has spent the last couple years trying to get Detroit to do something about its syphilus epidemic, without result. Apparently the Public Health services in that city are inept beyond imagination.

[netmilsmom]

What city are you in?? We are north of Detroit and I have a kindergartener.

[UKCajun]

Sort of ironic that a virus associated with "human feces" and lack of sanitation is making its way around a country like America!

[Kevin Curry]

Sort of ironic that a virus associated with "human feces" and lack of sanitation is making its way around a country like America!

Feces-borne infections have long been a scourge of California's bay area. For obvious reasons.

[netmilsmom]

It's surprising in the High School but have you ever seen a class of Kindergarteners go potty? If you can get half of them to do more than rinse their hands, it's a good day. My daughter's teacher washes everything down with anti-bacterial wipes and constantly has the kids use hand sanitizer. She is a wise woman.
(and all the parents are willing to provide the stuff if she is willing to do the work)

[per loin]

Yes. When was the last time you heard the old saw: "Cleanliness is next to Godliness"?

[UKCajun]

Not a pretty picture...yuck.

[UKCajun]

Apparently the virus is pretty robust. If I recall correctly, it will survive some time on door handles, hand rails, and the like.

Scary.

[OldBlondBabe]

I've often wondered how these things are transmitted and imagined something like this:

While grocery shopping one chooses a cart whose handle has just been drooled on and handled by a child with less-than-perfect wiping skills.* Now, the first thing I do when returning home is to wash my hands. However, imagine feeling a sneeze or cough coming on before returning home and reflexively using one's hand to cover the mouth....

My kids told me that they were taught in school to "sneeze into their upper arms".

*Unfortunately, some ADULTS do not wash their hands after using the bathroom. Ever see those signs in restaurant bathrooms reminding the members of their staffs to wash their hands before returning to work?

[OldBlondBabe]

Everything about Detroit is inept beyond imagination.

[UKCajun]

Unfortunately, some ADULTS do not wash their hands after using the bathroom.

I see it all the time. Imagine in the supermarket this person picks up a loaf of fresh baked bread (unwrapped) in the bakery section and decides another looks better. The loaf is replaced and another picked up. I've seen it happen lots! What about fruit and vegetables... We are very vulnerable...!

[netmilsmom]

You are right!!
I cover my bases by having the kids use flushable wipes after nature calls. This way, even if they do a bad hand washing job, we have some protection.
And I love those purse size "Curel" containers. They come in handy for all sorts of yuckies.
However, I do have something to say for overprotection. My friend washed everything her son touched with alcohol wipes. When he went to Kindergarten, he caught every bug imaginable. He had no natural immunities. Before eating and after potty is good, too much is too much.

[thinking]

When I think about the sexual practises of the "modern" young, I can see a connection with fecal contamination and the mouth.....

[Ragirl]

I'm in Livonia Michigan, west of Detroit.

[Ragirl]

I sent my 16 year old son to school with a bottle of Curel hand sanitizer and told him to use it often and he does. I'm afraid that this virus is a test for something bigger and I hope everyone stays relatively healthy.

[UKCajun]

Thanks Bill Clinton...