Vicious New Strain of Norovirus Taking Aim at LTC

The CDC has announced that a potentially dangerous new strain of norovirus is making its way into long-term care facilities across the country. The strain, known as Gll. 4 Sydney, was first identified in Australia last spring and has since spread around the globe. Gll. 4 Sydney accounted for the majority of norovirus outbreaks in the U.S. between September and December, 65 percent of which occurred in LTC facilities.

Gll. 4 noroviruses tend to cause more hospitalizations and deaths than other strains of the virus. Symptoms typically include diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and stomach cramping. Other less common symptoms are a low-grade fever, chills, headache, muscle aches and fatigue.

The CDC recommends taking the following steps to keep norovirus from spreading:

• Clean and disinfect. Use bleach-based cleaners to disinfect contaminated surfaces.
• Wash laundry thoroughly. Immediately remove clothing or linens that are contaminated with vomit or stool. Wear gloves while handling contaminated items and immediately wash your hands after handling them. The items should be washed with detergent at the maximum available cycle length and then machine dried. 
• Practice good hand hygiene. Wash your hands with soap and water, especially after using the bathroom or handling diapers and before eating or preparing food. If soap and water aren't available, use a hand sanitizer with an alcohol concentration of at least 60 percent.
• Be careful in the kitchen. Carefully wash all fruits and vegetables and cook shellfish thoroughly before eating them.
• Do not prepare food while infected. The CDC recommends that people with norovirus not prepare food for others while they have symptoms or for three days after they have recovered. 

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