Norovirus Responsible for Causing Outbreak of Illness

By Myles Collier, Christian Post Contributor Sunday, February 12, 2012

Cheerleaders at a competition in Washington State were exposed to a norovirus that was responsible for causing over 200 people to get sick.

Health officials are stating that the results from a state laboratory tests confirmed there was a group of viruses which caused the outbreak that led to those being affected to suffer from severe vomiting and diarrhea.

People who attended the state championship and Salute to Spirit cheerleading, dance and drill team event held in Everett, probably came in contact with someone who was infected with the norovirus.

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The virus is usually spread through person-to-person contact and also water and food that have been contaminated with fecal matter.

"Somebody arrived at the event sick," said Suzanne Pate, spokeswoman for the Snohomish Health District. She explained that janitorial crews had cleaned vomit that was in a restroom and on a walkway nearby. Those were likely exposure sites for the people that were sick, she said.

Individuals that contract the virus typically experience symptoms within 24 to 48 hours after they have been exposed. The resulting infection can also cause nausea, abdominal pain, cramps, low-grade fever and diarrhea.

The most recent report had 229 people that were sickened, while at least 33 people needed medical attention, according to state health officials.

There were over 3,000 people who went to the event on Feb. 4 which was held at Comcast Arena.

A Comcast Arena spokeswoman said officials sanitized the entire venue as directed by federal health guidelines. Tests of the arena's water supply showed no problems.

"It's probably the best-scrubbed place in the county," she added.

State health officials were conducting an online survey of the event participants and their families to identify a common source of illness. Those who attended the event have until Feb. 13 to submit the surveys.