How's this for a dubious distinction? Researchers have found that long-term care facilities are by far the most common settings for norovirus outbreaks, dwarfing even hospitals.
According to the CDC, more than 2,000 norovirus outbreaks originated in LTC facilities between 2009 and 2012. During those same years, only about 120 outbreaks originated in hospitals.
Of the 2,000-plus outbreaks, only 12 were linked to contaminated food, a common cause of the virus. The others were caused by other methods of transmission, including person-to-person contact.
Norovirus is notorious for spreading quickly through enclosed areas and is difficult to combat since it is resistant to common disinfectants, is infectious at very low doses and people shed a great amount of viral particles even when asymptomatic.
The norovirus hits elderly people hard. The majority of deaths related to the virus are among seniors and very young children.
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