It’s norovirus season. The highly contagious and often foodborne pathogen has restricted travel in and out of a North Carolina retirement residence. 80 residents and 50 staff members of the Croasdaile Village Retirement Community in Durham N.C. have been stricken with the virus leading to the local health department to reportedly set up a quarantine situation effective until Feb 28. (my guess is that it’s just a suggestion to reduce movement, not a lock-the-doors type of thing).
Croasdaile Village Retirement Community Executive Director Howard DeWitt said that staff first noticed the outbreak Thursday morning when multiple residents started exhibiting the same symptoms. None of the victims appear to have a life-threatening illness, he said.
Dewitt said that the Durham Health Department was called in and set up a quarantine, effective until Feb. 28.
Access to the community is being restricted, and the staff is trying keep residents separated, he said. Communal activities such as meals and worship have been curtailed. A 24-hour emergency command center has been set up in the administrative building.
The origin of the virus hasn’t been determined, DeWitt said.
Infected people can shed large amounts of norovirus in their vomit and poop; shedding can sometimes occur for 3 weeks after symptoms have resolved.
The majority of reported norovirus outbreaks are associated with food service settings or events and the virus can persist on common kitchen surfaces for at least 3-6 weeks.