Posted on 01/23/2003 1:43:00 PM PST by Willie Green
For education and discussion only. Not for commercial use.
ATLANTA (Reuters) - U.S. health officials said on Thursday they could not explain why a virus that causes millions of cases of acute gastroenteritis in the United States each year appeared to be spreading more widely in nursing homes, prisons and other institutional settings.
In its weekly morbidity and mortality health report, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said data collected from health departments across the nation indicated illnesses linked to noroviruses had risen in the past year.
The viruses, which are usually spread by fecal-contaminated food and water and personal contact, cause an estimated 23 million cases of acute gastroenteritis, including 50,000 hospitalizations and 300 deaths, in the nation each year.
Symptoms typically include diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.
The viruses, which often fail to be diagnosed or are misdiagnosed, have become a growing health concern after a number of highly publicized outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis on cruise ships sailing into U.S. ports.
They also were the most frequent cause of disability among soldiers serving in the 1991 Gulf War.
"This increased activity could be due to increased reporting or increased awareness, however when we speak to experienced health officials it is clear that what they're seeing is beyond that," said Dr. Marc-Alain Widdowson, a norovirus expert at Atlanta-based CDC.
He said CDC did not have the data to determine the extent of the rise in cases compared to previous years.
But investigations of more than 100 recent outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis in New Hampshire, Washington State and New York City since the beginning of 2002 have revealed significant exposure to noroviruses, according to the report.
NO DRUGS TO TREAT NOROVIRUSES
Although there are no drugs to treat noroviruses, most of those who become infected recover with fluid intake and prompt medical care. The rare deaths that do occur are usually caused by severe dehydration.
The spread of noroviruses can usually be prevented by using a bleach solution to clean up areas contaminated with vomit or feces, properly disposing of waste and monitoring those who come into contact with infected people.
In a separate report on Thursday, the CDC released an updated list of recommendations designed to help prevent the spread of hepatitis infections in U.S. correctional facilities.
They include vaccinating high risk inmates, such as intravenous drug users, against hepatitis B and monitoring those who test positive for hepatitis C for chronic infection and liver disease.
The CDC also recommended the hepatitis B vaccination for prison guards who come into frequent contact with blood products and said hepatitis prevention programs should be made a part of health education for all inmates.
Between 12 percent and 15 percent of all Americans with chronic hepatitis B and 39 percent of those with hepatitis C were released from a correctional facility in the year prior to testing positive for the viruses.
Please don't say that...
But as far as restaurants go, it is a shame that managers do not take a more active role in educating their wage-earners, most of whom are immune to the diseases they carry and spread.
Marine and a Sailor enter a bathroom at the same time. After finishing their business, the Sailor walks to the sink to wask his hands, while the Marine walks to the door. In a "high and mighty" voice, the Sailor says to the Marine, "In the Navy they teach us to wash our hands after using the bathrooms." The Marine snorts, and throws this line back at the sailor over his shoulder as he walks out of the restroom, "In the Marines they teach us not to pi$$ on our hands."
In all seriousness though, the last thing you want to do in any public restroom is touch anything. For a class in bacteriology I did a research project where I cultured many different areas of many different public restrooms, and I grew bacteria everywhere, even the places that you touch after washing your hands.
I'm with you, man.
For cryin' out loud! It ain't rocket science.
1. All those places have a lot of people packed into a small space.
2. Basic sanitation (HAND WASHING) has fallen out of favor.
NEXT!
Y'know, if I had a fancy degree, I could make money off of this.
Yes, my late granny spent her last years in such a place, but the staff actually kept it clean, and they washed their hands. It ain't rocket science.
Now, about that Mars Lander screw-up. That was rocket science.
I read one study done on public computer keyboards. The most often found contaminant was human feces. (YUP!)
Bt- if you need even better germ killer than garlic use high quality oil of oregano, be careful it's powerful!
Cheap immigrant labor is the most likely cause along with bureaucracy that keeps incompetents employed.
Although the soaps are typically labeled antibacterial, they are actually antimicrobial, meaning they affect viruses as well as bacteria.
These deli's know and worship good food. I suspect that sanitation zealots are supporting a cottage industry in their efforts. As a result we get such culinary juggernauts like Subway, Domino's, and the like. Some day they will outlaw those good country hams in the Carolina's. Uncooked, salt cured, and ten years old to ripen! Smells like road kill when you cook it, but it's great old world food. Maybe scrapple makers will be arrested for food terrorism? Did you ever watch what goes into scrapple? My neighbor is butchering hogs this weekend and when he is done butchering, it's scrapple makin time!
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