100 or more individuals thought to have illness

GRANT COUNTY — Outbreaks involving at least 100 and maybe more individuals at a clinic and four residential health care facilities located in Grant County have been reported to the Grant County Health District as having norovirus-like illnesses.

Health district officials are surveying the separate outbreaks, most of which have occurred in Moses Lake with cases also reported in Quincy.

The names of the health care facilities were not released by health officials.

"The single most important thing I think is to limit the transmission," said Peggy Grigg, director of personal health services with the health district.

Limiting contact of ill people from those who are healthy, washing hands regularly and staying home when sick are all ways people can decrease the spread of illness.

A norovirus infection is one of many known to lead to gastroenteritis, commonly called stomach flu.

Symptoms can include a low-grade fever, chills, headache, muscle aches and tiredness. The illness can begin suddenly and those infected may vomit, often violently and without warning.

Sickness may begin 24 to 48 hours after infection and can appear in as few as 12 hours. A person can be infected at different times with different noroviruses.

Grigg said to her knowledge no one at the health care facilities have been hospitalized, adding that none of the reporting facilities has had to relocate residents or patients.

In the meantime the health district plans to keep a close surveillance by phone of the outbreak locations to monitor the status of the virus.

An epidemiologist from Region 7, which includes Grant County, said what sets the norovirus apart from others is the many routes through which it can be transmitted.

"This particular virus is unique in that it can survive in surfaces, in water, in food and it can be human to human transmission," epidemiologist Jackie Dawson said.

When questioned if the close proximity of individuals in the residential facilities may have contributed to the transmission of the virus, Dawson agreed it is likely.

In most cases norovirus is not life-threatening. There is no treatment other than drinking liquids as a way to replenish fluids lost due to vomiting or diarrhea.

To find out more information or to report a suspect case of norovirus, contact the health district at (509) 754-6060 or (509) 766-7960.