Flu, norovirus take a toll on valley residents

The Daily Inter Lake

Influenza and norovirus continue to spread misery in the Flathead Valley.

Allison Bishop, public health nurse, said flu picked up steam as of Friday after a late winter appearance.

Norovirus, a nasty gastrointestinal illness, continues to spread.

Bishop said the Flathead City-County Health Department has tapped its multidisciplinary "epi" team to counter the norovirus spread. She expects to release their recommendations within a few days.

The county Health Department's January activity report cited a norovirus outbreak in one assisted-living facility and three "epi" alerts sent to health-care providers about flu, norovirus and pertussis (whooping cough).

"We had five pertussis [cases] come in January and February," Bishop said.

She said that the whooping-cough incidents appeared contained, but that easily could change. However, norovirus has spread to more than the one assisted-living facility reported in January.

"It's been in a lot of different locations," she said.

Bishop works with the state Health Department to collect information about clusters of norovirus. Unlike flu, health-care providers aren't required to report individual cases of norovirus.

Area hospitals have noted the outbreak with flyers and posters, warning people with symptoms or a recent bout of illness not to visit patients. Some have come to the hospital for treatment.

Shari Courser, infection control nurse, said not a day goes by without someone coming to the emergency room of Kalispell Regional Medical Center with symptoms of this gastrointestinal illness.

Symptoms of norovirus include nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, and some stomach cramping, Courser said. "It comes on fast and heavy, then goes in a day or two."

People may remain infectious for 72 hours and possibly longer after symptoms subside.

Courser said most people go home after a norovirus diagnosis, because treatment isn't available. She said a few get admitted to the hospital for treatment of dehydration, a dangerous complication.

"They go into contact precaution," Courser said.

She said that means that both staff and visitors must wear gowns and gloves in those rooms. The rooms receive frequent scrub-downs with a bleach-based cleaner.

Courser urged visitors to read the information posted in the entry of the hospital as well in the elevators and other places. Recently, a vomiting child was preparing to visit a patient at the hospital.

She said that Kalispell Regional Medical Center follows the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations for dealing with this highly contagious virus, which spreads by oral/fecal contamination.

Courser and Bishop agree on the best way for individuals to fight infection.

"Wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands," Bishop said.

Hands need a good scrubbing with soap to make certain no particles escape detection. Researchers think as few as 10 virus particles pave the way for 24-60 hours of a gastronomical nightmares.

Courser said people need to sip plenty of fluids and rest during the typically-short-but-dramatic viral episode.

The good news is that most people recover completely. The bad news is that most people remain vulnerable to repeat infections because of genetic variability of noroviruses.

Recent research suggests that people with blood type O run the greatest risk of severe infection.

During outbreaks, the CDC has documented several modes of transmission, such as initial food-borne transmission in a restaurant followed by secondary person-to-person transmission and household contacts.

The CDC attributes about 50 percent of food-borne gastroenteritis to the norovirus. In a study of 232 outbreaks of norovirus reported to CDC, 57 percent were food-borne, 16 percent were person-to-person, 3 percent were waterborne, and the rest were undetermined.

Reporter Candace Chase may be reached at 758-4436 or by e-mail at cchase@dailyinterlake.com.