More than 20 cases of norovirus infections have occurred at two Forsyth County nursing homes amid statewide reports of the illness in other counties, officials said Tuesday.
The Forsyth County Health Department has reported the outbreaks to state public health officials, said Linda Means, the department's communicable-disease nursing supervisor. Means declined to identify the nursing homes, but she said the affected elderly patients are being treated.
"Control measures have been put in place to prevent other residents from getting sick," Means said.
The nursing homes have curtailed community gatherings such as patients and staff members eating in cafeterias to prevent the illness from spreading, Means said.
Noroviruses are transmitted by touching a contaminated surface or by eating food or drinking liquids that have been contaminated with the virus, the N.C. Division of Public Health said in a statement.
Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramping. Some may have fever, chills, headache, muscle aches and fatigue.
Dr. Megan Davies, the state's epidemiologist, said people who are ill with vomiting or diarrhea should not go to work, school or to child-care centers while having symptoms.
"Everyone needs to wash their hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and water," Davies said. "This is the most effective way to protect yourself and others against norovirus since hand sanitizers alone are not as effective against this hardy virus."
In most people, the illness lasts one or two days, Davies said. People with norovirus illness are contagious from the moment they begin feeling sick until at least three days after they recover.
Infection can be severe in young children and elderly people. Dehydration can occur rapidly and may require medical treatment or hospitalization.
The viruses are difficult to kill, state health officials say. Surfaces that have been contaminated with feces or vomit should be cleaned immediately and disinfected with diluted bleach or a bleach-based household cleaner.
Throughout January, several local health departments across North Carolina have reported multiple outbreaks of norovirus.
State officials have received reports about outbreaks in Stokes, Alamance, Cabarrus, Catawba, Mecklenburg, Orange, Pitt and Wake counties, said Mark Van Sciver, division spokesman.
The division has provided advice on how people can avoid this gastrointestinal illness.
"Unfortunately, there is no specific medications to treat norovirus, but infected people should drink plenty of liquids to replace fluid lost through vomiting and diarrhea," Davies said.
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