10 January 2014 (05:36 UTC-07 Tango)/08 Rabi ‘al-Awwal 1435/20 Dey 1392/10 Gui-Chou (12th month) 4711
British Columbia, Canada: Catholic Providence Health Care reported seven cases at its Saint Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver. Visitors who insisted on entering the affected wards had to wear gowns and gloves.
Taiwan: The Taiwan Centers for Disease Control reports 246 Taiwanese tourists got sick in South Korea, with norovirus! Taiwan complained to South Korea, saying the tourists got sick from meals arraigned by the travel agencies.
England, U.K.: An outbreak of vomiting bug has closed three wards at the Warwick Hospital. All other wards are under visitor restrictions. Officials at Leeds Teaching Hospitals report increasing number of people coming in sick with “winter sickness bug”. Because there is no real treatment for norovirus hospital officials are telling people sick with it to just stay home! A report showed that in the 2012/13 financial year the George Eliot Hospital had a total of 352 days of ward closures, blamed on norovirus! The Musgrove Park Hospital reports an outbreak and asks that children under the age of 11 stay away from the hospital. Medway Maritime Hospital closed two wards.
Northern Ireland, U.K.: The BBC reporting that the Royal Victoria Hospital was backed up with a flood of sick people. The scene was described as chaotic and hospital staff were “at their breaking point”. The BBC says don’t blame it on norovirus outbreak, blame it on massive government health care funding cuts and layoffs, which resulted in other Northern Ireland hospitals rerouting new patients to Royal Victoria Hospital.
Scotland, U.K: Incompetent doctors at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary killed a retired woman by misdiagnosing her blood clot as vomiting bug!!! The 77 years old woman went to the hospital for help twice. She died after they sent her home the second time. Despite what the Royal screw job doctors said she did not have norovirus, she had a blot clot in her bowel! Health Protection Scotland is reporting that 70% of new hospital cases, in December 2013, were norovirus infections.
Kansas, U.S.A.: The Department of Health and Environment confirmed that a recent outbreak of norovirus was caused by a Jimmy John’s sandwich shop. The shop was closed for two days of cleaning.
Minnesota, U.S.A.: Health officials reporting coinciding increases in norovirus cases and influenza cases.
New Hampshire, U.S.A.: Health officials are noting a coinciding rise in norovirus cases, as influenza cases rise. No hard-n-fast numbers given.
New York, U.S.A.: A local NBC affiliate reported that hospital ERs are filling with people sick to their stomachs. The NBC affiliate didn’t give any hard and fast numbers.
Texas, U.S.A.: Health officials in the Dallas-Fort Worth area report coinciding cases of norovirus and H1N1, and people are getting confused: “You could be fooled, thinking that you have one and have the other. As far as norovirus goes, there’s really not anything we do for it other than supportive treatment, giving IV fluids if necessary.”-Glenn Hardesty, Arlington Memorial Hospital
Washington, U.S.A.: At least 11 people sick at a Fairhaven nursing home. Nursing home officials are blaming it on a visitor, whom they think was sick with norovirus.
Wisconsin, U.S.A.: In Fox Valley, 16 people at a nursing home got sick. Just like in Washington, nursing home officials blame it on a sick visitor.
The U.S. CDC says norovirus accounts for as many as 800 deaths in the United States, every year.
Norovirus is a surface contact bug, meaning you pick it up by touching or eating it. It is not influenza and there is still no vaccine for fast evolving RNA norovirus. The only ‘treatment’ is to keep the sick person hydrated.
Exotic anti-biotic soaps can’t kill norovirus, or any other virus for that matter, because anti-biotics are only for bacteria. Despite that, even hand ‘sanitizers’ made with alcohol can’t totally get rid of norovirus. Guess what apparently works? According to the U.S. CDC old fashioned hand soap is best. Consumer Reports says to leave the soap on your hands for a minimum of 20 seconds. Also, in public restrooms use a paper towel to turn off the faucet and to open the door, do not touch surfaces with your bare hands after washing them.
Wash household surfaces with bleach.
The worse thing is that you can be infected and not have any symptoms. An infected person can spread norovirus, yet not feel sick themselves. If you think you might be infected do not cook food for other people. People recovering from traditional symptoms of norovirus can continue spreading the bug for days after feeling better (some reports say weeks).