A norovirus outbreak originating from a California restaurant has sickened about 100 individuals, in accordance with the San Luis Obispo County Public Well being Division.
Jessie Burmester, an epidemiologist from the well being division, informed KSBY information that 97 instances have been confirmed in reference to the outbreak earlier this month. Whereas Burmester didn’t disclose the identify of the restaurant concerned, she revealed that the investigations persistently pointed to the identical institution.
“Our major goal throughout investigations is to establish a typical supply or publicity level,” Burmester stated. “To this point, all people reporting sickness have persistently offered the identify of the restaurant.”
On Might 15, the Public Well being Division formally declared an outbreak after receiving greater than two stories of the identical publicity supply. Additional investigations indicated that some affected people started experiencing signs as early as Might 11.
Upon figuring out the outbreak, the Public Well being Division took motion to stop additional unfold of the norovirus. They required the restaurant to provoke intensive cleansing and disinfection measures and launched an investigation to find out the supply of the sicknesses, in accordance with Burmester.
Burmester offered some perception into the prevalence of norovirus outbreaks in California. “In California alone, we witness round 2,500 norovirus outbreaks yearly.”
The San Luis Obispo County Public Well being Division urges people who suspect they could have contracted norovirus to hunt medical consideration and report their sickness to native public well being departments. Moreover, they emphasize the significance of taking crucial precautions to attenuate the chance of an infection, particularly in settings the place meals is ready and consumed.
Signs of norovirus an infection might embody extreme vomiting and/or diarrhea, nausea, muscle aches, fever, and headache, in accordance with the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention. Signs sometimes begin 12 to 48 hours after publicity and might final for one to a few days. Most individuals recuperate with out therapy, nevertheless, some might have medical consideration for dehydration.
Norovirus is very contagious and contaminated individuals can unfold the an infection simply to others. The virus can stay on surfaces for lengthy intervals of time. Droplets within the air from the vomiting of contaminated individuals may unfold the virus to individuals and contaminate surfaces.
To forestall others from getting sick all the time wash arms rigorously with cleaning soap and heat water after utilizing the lavatory, altering diapers or caring for probably contaminated individuals. Use cleaning soap and water to scrub bogs or different areas that could be dirty with feces or vomit.
Wash dirty clothes and bedding in sizzling water and detergent. Tender surfaces that can’t be laundered may be steam cleaned.
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