Health Dept. Investigating Possible Norovirus Outbreak

by ARLnow.com — February 11, 2011 at 10:06 am 2,147 12 Comments

Arlington County’s health department is investigating a possible Norovirus outbreak at an assisted living facility.

The county issued a short statement to ARLnow.com last night confirming they’re “currently investigating reports of gastrointestinal (GI) illness at a long-term care facility.”

Citing “confidentiality rules,” a Department of Human Services spokesman refused to identify the facility. A source, however, tells us the facility is the Sunrise at Bluemont Park (5910 Wilson Blvd) senior living community.

The source says paramedics were called to the building on Wednesday. Medics then called the health department.

“We have not yet identified the cause of the illness; however, it is not uncommon to have GI illness due to Norovirus this time of year,” DHS spokesman Kurt Larrick said. “We are working with the facility on ways to control the spread of illness.”

The county said members of the public can help stop the spread of Norovirus and other gastrointestinal illnesses by washing one’s hands frequently with warm water and soap for 20 seconds and by staying at home if you feel sick.

“Please postpone visiting an assisted living facility, nursing home or hospital” if you’re sick and “keep your sick children home from school,” the county advised.

John Goilios

You’re wrong about the location, by the way.
- ARLnow.com
  
  Care to tell us what the actual location is then?
- Arlwhenever
  
  Are you saying it’s the Sunrise on North Glebe, the Jefferson, or not Sunrise at all?
- OX4
  
  That’s very helpful, John.
CW

Wikipedia: “Transmission is through fecal-oral, can be aerosolized when those stricken with the illness vomit and can be aerosolized by a toilet flush when vomit or diarrhea is present; infection can follow eating food or breathing air near an episode of vomiting, even if cleaned up.”

Mmm, nothing like eating poo and breathing puke.
duran nor duran

awww shiiiit….
CrankyMom

It’s possible that more than one facility is affected. When we were looking at nursing homes a few winters ago, more than one was closed to visitors due to norovirus.
Overgrown Bush

Norovirus seems to hit nursing homes often. It is nasty from what I understand.
Bob

There has been an outbreak in my house twice in the past 5 weeks. Noro-Virus hits my family ever year this time. Pretty much anyone with young kids can expect a few days of General Naseau followed by sudden and immediated Barfing, followed by Crapping. Great for Weight loss !
Kate

“by washing one’s hands frequently with warm water and soap for 20 seconds and by staying at home if you feel sick.”

I sure wish that the food preparer(s) at Tallulah would have taken that advice before a friend and I dined there. He’s an infectious disease specialist at NIH–and when we both got ill at the same time and in the same way, he said “no question, it’s norovirus.”
- CW
  
  I hear you get over it more quickly when you don’t think about the fact that you got it from breathing vaporized poop…
R0bespierre

I was afflicted with this horrible nuisance on Thursday the 10th. The only place I had eaten was Whole Foods…terrible diarrhea. Only lasted about 12 hours though.

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