Pima County, Ariz. (April 6, 2012) – As people prepare to gather for Easter and Passover, the Pima County Health Department asks they be vigilant in preventing the spread of Norovirus, especially around the elderly and children.

The health department is investigating seven clusters of the virus in long-term and assisted-living facilities in the area.

Seeing Norovirus circulate in these types of facilities is not uncommon but health officials say that seeing so many at one time is unusual. Norovirus is more commonly known as “stomach flu” or “24 hour flu,” even though it has no relation to the flu (influenza) virus.

Norovirus is highly contagious and can be spread through person-to-person contact, consumption of contaminated food and water, airborne droplets of vomit and contact with contaminated surfaces, such as doorknobs and faucets.

Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps usually lasting 24 to 72 hours without any serious complications. The elderly, infants, and people with other medical conditions can suffer more serious symptoms. They may have to be hospitalized and the disease can be fatal. It’s especially important to protect these people from the disease.

Dr. Michelle McDonald, Chief Medical Officer of the Pima County Health Department, said: “The most important thing to realize is that extra precautions should be taken to prevent the spread of this disease when we are seeing so much of it amongst the people most vulnerable to it – the elderly.”  Here is her advice:

• Wash your hands often. This is especially important for medical and food workers. Washing your hands with soap and water is the quickest and most effective way to stop the spread of most diseases like Norovirus. Alcohol-based sanitizers may be a helpful addition to hand washing but they are not a substitute for washing with soap and water.
• Keep it to yourself. People who are sick should stay home from work or school for at least 48 hours after their symptoms are gone. Medical and food workers can very easily pass their illness on to others.
• Keep it clean. Since Norovirus can be spread on surfaces, it is important to keep high- traffic areas sanitized with a bleach-based or otherwise powerful cleanser. Not all cleansers are the same, so check the label to see if your cleanser will get the job done.

For more on Norovirus, contact your health provider or call the Health Department at 520.243.7800.