A norovirus strikes shelters for evacuees from a California forest fire

Evacuees who fled the campfire in California face outbreaks of norovirus in shelters. The Butte County Public Health Department reported that 145 people had been affected by vomiting and / or diarrhea since the opening of the evacuee centers and that 41 people had symptoms in four centers. different accommodation Wednesday night.

Twenty-five people went to the hospital for medical support, the health department said in a statement.

"The number of sick people is increasing every day," the statement said.

About 9,700 homes were destroyed and 141,000 acres burned. Seventy-one people died as a result of the fire and more than 1,000 are missing.

The Butte County Health Department is working with the Red Cross, states, and federal partners to reduce the spread of the disease in evacuation shelters, according to the statement released Thursday.

Among the actions undertaken are the setting up of separate shelters for sick evacuees, the active surveillance of shelter residents and the protective equipment of medical personnel.

What is norovirus?

Norovirus, sometimes called intestinal flu or "stomach virus," is "a highly contagious virus that causes vomiting and diarrhea," according to US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This results in between 19 and 21 million cases of acute gastroenteritis each year in the United States.

The most common symptoms are stomach pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Fever, headache and body aches may also be signs of norovirus.

According to the CDC, symptoms usually appear 12 to 48 hours after exposure and most people recover within one to three days. Noroviruses can cause dehydration, especially in young children, older adults and other diseases.

Although there is currently no vaccine or drug to treat norovirus sufferers, it is recommended that people who are sick take a lot of fluids to prevent dehydration.

Norovirus can spread easily and quickly, especially in overcrowded environments. It can spread through contaminated food, contaminated water, contaminated surfaces and sick people.

Cruise ships, retirement homes, long-term care facilities, restaurants, and eating places where groups of people are in close contact in confined spaces are the most common locations for outbreaks. norovirus.

The CDC recommends good hand hygiene, cleaning and disinfecting surfaces, and safe handling and preparation of food to prevent transmission of the virus. They also say that sick people should not take care of or prepare food for others.