SAN JUAN COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

Suspected Norovirus outbreak among campers

posted 08/17/04
PRESS RELEASE: Public health officials were busy last weekend investigating an outbreak of norovirus-like illness among a group on a cycling tour of the San Juans. The tour included camping at Lakedale on San Juan, Mountain Lake at Moran State Park on Orcas, State Park on Sucia, and Spencer Spit State Park on Lopez. The first illness occurred Wednesday while the group was on Sucia Island. By Saturday, when they departed Lopez, 18 of the group of 45 had been stricken. Exposure most likely took place after the group arrived in the islands.

Many different viruses can cause the symptoms of gastroenteritis. The illness is highly contagious but self-limiting. It may cause severe episodes of vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, headache and fever. In general, the symptoms begin 1-2 days following infection and may last for 1-10 days, usually 1-2 days.

Most people recover completely without any long-term problems. Infants, young children, and persons who are unable to care for themselves, such as the disabled or elderly, are at risk for dehydration from loss of fluids.

People experiencing these symptoms should contact their physician, so severity can be assessed and symptoms managed. It is important to maintain fluid intake. Infected people are contagious from the onset of symptoms to at least three days after recovery, and sometimes as long as ten to 14 days after recovery.

Spread of infection is best controlled with thorough and frequent handwashing, prompt disinfection of contaminated surfaces with household bleach-based cleaners, and prompt washing of soiled articles of clothing. Fruits and vegetables should be carefully washed before eating them.

For further information, please contact San Juan County Health and Community Services at 378-4474.

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Noro virus: your grandma's stomach flu

posted 08/27/03
The virus outbreak on Orcas Island which was covered Canadian news stations, Seattle TV and USA Today, is the same thing your grandmother called the stomach flu. "The only thing slightly different is that it has a new name," San Juan County Health Director Frank James said. The norovirus struck campers at Camp Orkila last week.

One girl arrived at camp on Monday, climbed off the bus and "puked two times," James told the Board of County Commissioners during a Board of Health update August 27, 2003. "That is not a terribly uncommon event at camp. The kids are away from home, they've had a long bus ride."

On Tuesday the girl was fine. On Wednesday two other campers in her area became ill. By Thursday, there were four. The doctor in residence began to isolate the children. On Friday morning at sick call there were 20, then 40, 60 and 80 sick children.

At the end of the incident 128 children and staff became ill. James praised the Camp Orkila staff, the county Sheriff's office staff, Washington State Ferries and the county Health Dept for their handling of the incident. "The camp did a spectacular job. They were very professional," said James. "They just had some bad luck."

The health dept has received some calls from day camp participants who have come down with the 24-hour bug. The disease is very infectious and very short lived, according to James. Everybody gets better in 24 hours.

PRESS RELEASE from COUNTY HEALTH DEPT.

posted 08/27/03
Friday afternoon ( August 22, 2003) an outbreak of viral gastroenteritis was reported to the San Juan County Health and Community Services Department. The outbreak initially involved about 40 campers at a local summer camp. Later that day the number had risen to over 80. In all there were over 120 cases of what has been for years called "stomach flu" (although it is not caused by the influenza virus), according to John Manning MPH, Director of Health and Community Services.

"The most likely cause of this outbreak is what is now called Norovirus infection," said Dr. Frank James, San Juan County Health Officer. Norovirus is a new term for an old group of viruses that were previously referred to as Norwalk or Norwalk like virus. Many other viruses cause gastroenteritis (rotavirus, adenovirus, calicivirus, astrovirus and Norwalk virus). This syndrome is not routinely caused by other organisms that can cause gastrointestinal problems such as bacteria (Salmonella or E. Coli) or parasites (Giardia). Viruses, unlike parasites and bacteria, can not grow outside the human body. However, sometimes they can become dormant and persist in the environment until they enter a person.

Dr James went on to say that "vomiting is the single most common symptom but some individuals also have diarrhea. Other symptoms may include headache, fever, chills muscle aches, fatigue and stomach aches." Generally symptoms begin within a day or two of being exposed and last for 24 hours. Occasionally symptoms persist for another day.

"For most people this is not a serious illness. People recover quickly with few exceptions. They may, however, feel very ill and vomit many times a day. The main problem is dehydration, " said Dr. James. Simply drinking enough fluids to replace losses is the cornerstone of medical therapy. Young children and the elderly are at increased risk of complications from dehydration. Immune compromised individuals may also be at greater risk because they may have more severe fluid losses from the disease.

People become infected when they either eat or drink items that have become contaminated, touch contaminated surfaces and then put there hands in their mouth, sharing eating/drinking materials or caring for others who are ill directly. Individuals usually get ill within 24 to 48 hours after exposure (rarely as soon as 12 hours after). They are infectious from their first symptom until at least 3 days after their recovery. Rarely people are still infectious up to 2 weeks after the disease has resolved.

Prevention is mainly by washing ones hands before one eats and after going to the bathroom. Once an infection has been identified it is important to clean surfaces that may have become contaminated with a mixture of 10% household bleach. Cleaning of clothing that becomes contaminated by washing in hot water and a hot dryer and bleaching when possible is also very important. Being sure that all vomit and diarrhea is disposed of by flushing down the toilet is important as well. "Individuals who have been ill should not prepare food for others until at least three days after they are entirely well " said Environmental Health Manager, Mark Tompkins, "and any food that may have been contaminated by an ill person should be discarded."

For more information about viral gastroenteritis see the CDC Web site For more information contact Frank James MD at 360-201-2505.

Illness strikes Camp Orkila campers

posted 08/23/03
Friday night a few campers at Camp Orkila on Orcas Island came down with an intestinal virus. By morning more than 140 out of 360 campers were ill. YMCA spokesperson Monica Elenbaas said arrangements were made with Washington State Ferries to send the healthy campers home on Saturday. Grayline buses picked them up in Anacortes. The parents of the ill campers were called to take their children home. As of Saturday night, a few ill campers remained at camp. They will be returned home by Monday which is when the camping session was scheduled to end.

Elenbaas said the county Health Dept. is trying to determine the cause of the illness. This is the first incident of this kind in the history of the camp, she said.

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