Norovirus Illness Contained at Cary Rest Home

7/31/2006

Wake County health officials have determined that the public and other rest home residents no longer appear to be at-risk of a stomach illness that occurred at the Chatham Creek Rest Home in Cary last week.

Dr. David Damsker, Wake County medical epidemiologist, said testing of five samples from individuals who became ill all came back from the state lab positive for norovirus. A total of 21 residents and six staff members became ill early last week. Management staff at the rest home notified Wake County Human Services Community Health division Tuesday, July 25, of the illness. Five residents were hospitalized locally, and three nurses in the hospital’s emergency department also became sick. Measures to control the outbreak were put in place immediately, and no new cases have been reported since last Thursday.

"At this point in time, we feel this is an isolated exposure," Damsker said. "The individuals who were hospitalized were treated for dehydration and complications caused by age and complex medical conditions. Everyone who became sick is showing signs of improvement, and no new exposures have been detected. We anticipate everyone will recover. Technically, there isn’t any treatment for norovirus except to monitor your symptoms and maintain your intake of fluid. Anyone who feels their fluid intake is low or whose symptoms don’t improve fairly quickly, should seek medical care as soon as possible."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, (CDC), noroviruses "are a group of viruses that cause the ‘stomach flu,’ or gastroenteritis in people." Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and some stomach cramping. Occasionally, some people may have a low-grade fever, chills, headache, muscle aches and a general sense of tiredness, the CDC states. The illness is usually brief with symptoms lasting only one or two days.

"The very young and the very old along with anyone with a compromised immune system are most at-risk of complications from this type of illness," Damsker said. "Proper hygiene and washing hands thoroughly with soap and warm water are among the best steps individuals can take to keep from spreading colds, flu and other germs. Caregivers who become sick should not be around others while they have symptoms so they reduce the potential for exposure. These types of viruses are found in our everyday environment. That’s why proper personal hygiene is so important."

The CDC reports that common routes of infection for norovirus include food, contaminated water, contact with an infected person, unwashed hands or dirty utensils.

Anyone with questions should contact Dr. Damsker at 250-4549.

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