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Norovirus Outbreaks in Nursing Homes on the Rise
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Assuming you made it through the holidays without contracting the flu from Aunt Bea or Cousin Alex, I’m here to remind you that you’re not quite out of the woods. That said, your conscientious efforts to remain healthy and avoid viruses this season—perhaps by receiving a flu shot—need not be in vain! Enter noroviruses, a nasty little group of viruses that can cause the highly loathed stomach flu, or, more scientifically speaking, acute gastroenteritis. Norovirus illness is not related to the flu, or influenza, and is therefore immune to the flu shot. And forget antibiotics, as they only work to battle bacteria—not viruses. There is no cure; just prevention. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it’s estimated that in a typical year in the US, 23 million people are infected with some type of norovirus, some 50,000 of whom are hospitalized, and 300 of whom die.
Norovirus cases are more dangerous in nursing homes—long-term care facilities for people who need skilled care—and hospitals, where elderly patients in frail health can become extremely ill. In fact, the virus has struck many nursing homes throughout the country in the past several months. Last week a nursing home administrator turned away a Gilbert Guide surveyor (on assignment to update facility information for our Bay Area edition) as several of her residents were sick with a norovirus and under quarantine. The symptoms of norovirus are similar to that of the stomach flu, typically resulting in a one or two-day bout of diarrhea and vomiting, usually accompanied by headache, fever, muscle aches and fatigue. In addition, the virus is extremely contagious, spreading easily from food or liquid that has been handled by someone carrying the bug. People with a norovirus are contagious “from the moment they begin feeling ill to at least three days after recovery” according to the CDC. But the virus may remain in the gastrointestinal tract up to three weeks after illness!
How is the Virus Spread?
- Eating food or drinking liquids that are contaminated with norovirus
- Having contact with doorknobs, toilet handles and other contaminated surfaces
- Being in direct contact with someone infected with the virus
Staff at many nursing homes have taken important steps to help prevent the spread of the virus, including isolating ill residents in their rooms, using disposable plates and utensils, and wearing masks, gloves and gowns when working with residents who have been infected with the virus.
Tips You Can Take to Prevent Further Outbreaks:
- Wash hands frequently with soap and warm water, especially after using the toilet, changing diapers and before eating or preparing food
- Eat food that is well cooked and still hot when served
- Wash fruits and veggies well before eating
- Disinfect bathrooms with a bleach solution, especially following use
- Discard food handled by a person with the virus
- Wash utensils, dishes and laundry in hot water and detergent
- Wear household gloves when handling soiled materials
Fortunately, the next several months will see the reduction of norovirus outbreaks as the virus runs its course in the winter. Until then, following these simple tips should keep you in the clear!
Until next time...Ami Icanberry
Posted in: Nursing Care, Senior Care News, Senior Health, Skilled Nursing
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I work in a nursing home and we’ve been taking more precautions around our residents who are ill. WEhen coming into contact with bodily fluids that may carry the virus it’s important to
1) wear disposable gloves
2) put any soiled towels into a plastic garbage bag
3) clean soiled area with hot water and soap.
4) disinfect the area with a solution of of bleach with 1/3 cup of bleach and 1 gallon of water.
5) wash your hands!
My mother is in a NYC nursing home. Yesterday I was told (when I got to her floor) that many people on her floor were ill with a stomach virus. Today I called the floor and they refused to give me any information regarding disinfectant which seemed odd so I called the Director of Nursing. He told me the virus spread throughout the building, they called the DOH, it is Norovirus, and of course they were disinfecting everything per the instructions of the DOH. I told him I was concerned because my mother(who is there for short-term nursing)has a severely impaired immune system. He then said I should not come visit my mother because middle-aged people were more often effected by Norovirus than the elderly. This is inconsistent with everything I’ve read online and I was wondering if there are statistics on this. BTW, no one was cleaning up after the vomiting patients.