Norovirus caused more than 225 people to suffer vomiting and diarrhea during a Washington state cheerleading competition in Everett, testing by the Washington Public Health Laboratories has confirmed.
Norovirus typically is transmitted person-to-person and is highly contagious. The number of people who reported intestinal illness after competing in or attending the tournament on February 4 was 229 at last count and expected to grow. All together, about 4,000 people were in attendance as competitors or spectators.
A state Health Department press release said 33 people reported seeking medical care, though there were no overnight hospital admissions.
The event was sponsored by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA).
As the health department notes in this case: Good personal hygiene including frequent hand washing is an important tool to prevent the spread of Norovirus and many other types of intestinal disease.
