Noro-Virus Hits west Michigan, Hope College Closed

[Sodajaxon]

this just came in as i waiting to see Barack Obama's News Conference


Hope College closed by
norovirus
3pm press conference streamed on
woodtv.com

Last Edited: Friday, 07 Nov 2008, 2:19 PM EST
Created On: Friday, 07 Nov 2008, 2:05 AM EST

_http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/Hope_College_closed_by_norovirus

HOLLAND, Mich. (WOOD) - The county and state health departments ordered the Hope College campus closed because of a norovirus outbreak.

Around 140 Hope College students reported symptoms to the college health clinic and the Ottawa County Health Department.

The order, in effect through 8 a.m. Tuesday, includes the cancellation of classes , athletic events and any other event where people gather on campus. Students are not being evacuated, but the order is in effect to minimize the chance of the virus spreading.

A press conference on the issue will be held at 3 p.m.

 

[Jacques]

from: _http://www.hope.edu/hopetoday/

What is Norovirus? -- Noroviruses are a group of viruses that cause acute gastroenteritis in humans. The symptoms of norovirus infection include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cramping, and low-grade fever. Noroviruses are transmitted through the consumption of fecally contaminated food or water, direct person-to-person spread, or environmental contamination. The source of the illness at Hope has not been determined.

 

[Ruth]

What is Norovirus? -- Noroviruses are a group of viruses that cause acute gastroenteritis in humans. The symptoms of norovirus infection include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cramping, and low-grade fever. Noroviruses are transmitted through the consumption of fecally contaminated food or water, direct person-to-person spread, or environmental contamination. The source of the illness at Hope has not been determined.

Its a very contageous virus. My guess is that somebody came to the college who was suffering gastro, didtn't wash their hands after going to the toilet and then touched something that many other people touched after them.... like a computer keyboard.

Everybody else who touched that same keyboard (and original person may have touched more than one keyboard in the place), then went off to the canteen and got something to eat.... thereby putting the virus in their system via their hands touching the food.

Same sort of thing happens in nursing homes to staff. They don't know they've touched something contaminated (like a computer keyboard, pen or keys), those same hands go and pick up food and eat it, not realising that they've just put some of the virus from their hands onto the food. So, it pays to wash your hands before you eat.

Then again, the door handle OUT of the bathroom may very well be contaminated and people touch that AFTER they wash their hands.