South Carolina’s top disease control official says Norovirus outbreaks in the state are way up this year, a trend that has prompted health notices in a wide variety of institutional settings including schools, nursing homes and assisted living facilities.
Since the start of 2012, the Palmetto State has investigated more than twice the usual number of reported outbreaks thought to be associated with Norovirus.
“Most of the illnesses have been caused by Norovirus, and this significant increase is similar to what we’re hearing is happening in other states,” said Dr. Jerry Gibson, M.D., state epidemiologist and director of the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control’s Bureau of Disease Control.
In a news release, Gibson reminded state residents that Norovirus is highly infections and spreads easily from person to person and from contact with contaminated surfaces. Norovirus symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramping. Other symptoms can include a low-grade fever, chills, headache, muscle ache and malaise. Illness typically lasts two days.
Dr. Gibson urged employers to be vigilant and keep any sick employees away from the workplace, especially nursing homes and other care facilities.
Gibson said effective cleaning and control measures can easily stop transmission of the disease and he has posted cleaning guidelines on his agency’s website.
