Personal Injury Law

Is Norovirus Sickening the Oysters or the People or Both?

Posted on April 05, 2010
An outbreak of norovirus has shut down three oyster beds in Louisiana -- the largest oyster harvest shutdown in the state in a decade. Despite the shutdown, state health officials still aren't sure if oysters are a problem.  The sickness isn't fatal in most circumstances, but it will make you extremely uncomfortable...

Even Smart People Get Norovirus

Posted on April 03, 2010
According to the Boston Globe, the Harvard Faculty Club has been closed after a possible norovirus outbreak. Several guests first reported feeling ill on Saturday, and the school's health and safety team immediately responded. The team, along with the Cambridge Department of Public Health, on Tuesday believed that a person or persons with the virus passed it on to people at the club, according to Martin...

Is there a link between Celebrity Mercury Cruise Lines and Norovirus Illnesses in South Carolina?

Posted on March 30, 2010
Recently, officials with the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed that Norovirus caused intestinal illness on a third straight cruise from South Carolina earlier this month. The Norovirus sickened almost 420 people aboard Celebrity Mercury, which returned to Charleston on March 18...

Norovirus Outbreak Linked to Airlne

Posted on March 27, 2010
It's not uncommon to hear of norovirus outbreaks sickening cruise customers. Now, a recent outbreak of the virus could be traced back to an airline flight in Ohio. The Columbus Dispatch writes "norovirus is to blame for an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness that sickened at least 18 student-athletes and one coach and postponed the NCAA Division I Men's Swimming and Diving Championships...

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Ship of the Damned - Third Cruise of Celebrity Mercury Returns Due to Norovirus

Posted on March 18, 2010
The Celebrity Mercury returned to the Port of Charleston early Thursday to disembark guests. The cruise liner was struck again with an outbreak of the norovirus and had to return a day earlier than scheduled. The cruise line says 364 of the vessel's more than 1,800 passengers took ill on a cruise which left March 8...

Norovirus Hits Florida Hard

Posted on March 12, 2010
Across Florida, 61 clusters of norovirus were identified during January and February. That's up from 47 clusters in 2009.  Places where the virus can spread easily includes jails, schools and assisted living facilities. Most healthy people survive Norovirus just fine, with recovery in about two days...

Oysters Recalled in Oregon Due to Norovirus

Posted on March 01, 2010
Another food recall is in effect for parts of Oregon. Oregon Oyster Farms Incorporated is recalling oyster meat and oysters in the shell from Yaquina Bay at Newport. The recall involves one-half pint containers, pint containers, half gallon containers, and four-gallon buckets including all large, medium, small, extra-small, and petite Pacific oysters, Kumamoto oysters, and Yaquina native oysters...

Cruise Ships Causing Norovirus Outbreaks in Ports?

Posted on February 25, 2010
Norovirus is a serious virus that causes nausea, diarrhea and severe cramps. This disease, often associated with cruise ship sickness, has made resurgence in the last few weeks. This time it is affecting retirement/assisted living homes. The virus has turned up in several of these facilities in Florida and South Carolina...

YMCA Youth and Government Conference at the Sheraton Hotel Hit by Norovirus

Posted on February 15, 2010
The Wake County Environmental Services has confirmed that four out of the 150 people who became ill while attending the YMCA Youth and Government conference at the Sheraton Hotel over the weekend had the norovirus. Lab results received Monday confirms the results and the County continues to investigate the source of the norovirus and has put precautionary measures in place to reduce the spread of illness...

Croasdaile Village Norovirus Outbreak

Posted on February 13, 2010
Officials are limiting access to the Croasdaile Village retirement community after dozens of residents became ill with what's believed to be norovirus. The facility has 630 residents - which range from independent living, assisted living and nursing care residents...

Norovirus at DePaul Medical Center

Posted on February 10, 2010
Visitation has been restricted on a unit at Bon Secours DePaul Medical Center this week because of an outbreak of norovirus, a highly contagious stomach bug that causes vomiting, diarrhea and fever. Lynne Zultanky, spokeswoman for the hospital, said staff identified the symptoms of norovirus in patients on a transitional care unit on Friday, and the diagnosis was confirmed by the Norfolk Department of Public Health on Monday...

Norovirus Link Closed Louisiana Oyster Beds

Posted on January 16, 2010
The Advocate reported today, 'oyster bed closures 'safety net.' The closure of some oyster harvesting grounds in southwest Louisiana this week highlights how pollution can impact the state's fishing industry. The state Department of Health and Hospitals halted oyster harvesting in lower Calcasieu Lake on Thursday on the suspicion that oysters from the area might have been linked to a norovirus outbreak in North Carolina...

FDA - Texas Oysters have Norovirus - Illnesses Linked in North and South Carolina

Posted on December 07, 2009
The U.S. government warned consumers Sunday to avoid oysters from San Antonio Bay in Texas after investigators found the oysters caused a highly contagious virus. Consumers who bought San Antonio Bay-harvested oysters on or after November 16 should throw them away, the Food and Drug Administration announced...

Effects of technological processes on the tenacity and inactivation of norovirus GGII in experimentally contaminated foods

Posted on November 22, 2009
American Society for Microbiology Sascha Mormann, Mareike Dabisch, and Barbara Becker Abstract Contaminated food is a significant vehicle of human norovirus transmission. The present study determined the effect of physicochemical treatments on the tenacity of infective human norovirus genogroup II in selected foods...

Norovirus Outbreaks Linked to Cruise Ship Bathrooms

Posted on November 19, 2009
A study suggests one possible culprit: dirty restrooms.  Most restrooms on these ships are not being properly cleaned, the authors say, and a sanitation program run by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not detect the dirty ones...

Norovirus Death of Dr. Edward Nacht Linked to Weston Hills Country Club

Posted on October 31, 2009
A norovirus, which can be passed by food, likely was what killed a Weston, FL dentist who was one of four friends to get sick shortly after eating lunch at Weston Hills Country Club in June, a new Broward County Health Department report says. But the report this week stopped short of naming the club as the source of the virus, and state regulators have taken no disciplinary action...

Polish Raspberries cause Norovirus Outbreak in Finland

Posted on October 16, 2009
Noroviruses are part of a group of viruses understood to be the most common cause of stomach upset. They cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, and people may also have a fever and head and muscle pains. Although an individual's symptoms may pass in one or two days, the disease is highly contagious and remains in the faeces for several weeks afterwards...

Free Meals at The Fat Duck - You need Norovirus First

Posted on October 03, 2009
When I was in England in May I tried to get reservations at Heston Blumenthal's Fat Duck.  Whether is was my profession or that it was actually busy, I do not know.  However, now more than 500 diners who suffered food poisoning after eating at the Fat Duck restaurant have been offered a free meal...

Norovirus Experts Gather In London on Nov. 25h

Posted on September 25, 2009
An international conference for sharing experiences and updates on current knowledge of the Norovirus and managing outbreaks in both clinical and community settings is set for Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2009 in London. Sponsor of the one day event is the Royal Society for Public Health...

Norovirus: An Ongoing Challenge

Posted on September 19, 2009
25 November 2009 28 Portland Place, London, W1B 1DE Tab 1: Conference overview Norovirus outbreaks remain a major public health concern and the subject of much media attention. It is estimated that Norovirus accounts for 50% of worldwide food borne gastroenteritis (diarrhoea and vomiting) outbreaks and causes more than 23 million cases of acute gastroenteritis a year in the USA alone...

Shellfish Blamed For Norovirus Outbreak At Fat Duck

Posted on September 12, 2009
 The New York Times says the Fat Duck restaurant is one of the world's best, so it must be true.  We thought it might be interesting to read the British Health Protection Agency's report on last winter's Norovirus outbreak that made 529 duck diners sick...

Norovirus 101--Here's What We All Really Need To Know!

Posted on September 07, 2009
 Mark Roberts is a Texas-based insurance sales and marketing agent who doubles as a pretty decent health writer.  In the Cypress Times, he takes a "just the facts" approach to laying out what we all need to know about Norovirus.  A few examples: The norovirus is known to be highly contagious; and, therefore, the illness can literally be passed around like a big bag of chips in a hurry...

Oregon Assisted Living Facility Locked Down During Norovirus Outbreak

Posted on September 01, 2009
Nick Christensen, writing in The Hillsboro Argus, reports that residents at the Jennings McCall Center in Forest Grove, OR have been in quarantine since Aug. 11 after an outbreak of norovirus. Adella MacDonald, chief executive officer of the Jennings McCall Center, said the first case of norovirus came in on Aug...

Area Of North Cornwall Has Confirmed Norovirus Outbreak Involving 200

Posted on August 24, 2009
The Treyarnon Bay area of North Cornwall (see lower left area on map) has an outbreak of sickness and diarrhea that has now been confirmed as Norovirus. Since late July,  about 200 people have suffered symptoms in the area. South West Peninsula Health Protection Unit, NHS Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Cornwall Council and the Environment Agency are working together on the outbreak which has mostly affected people staying at vacation hotels, although no single source of the infection has been established...

Tabacco Plant Used As Source For New Norovirus Vaccine

Posted on August 18, 2009
Tobacco could get a whole new reputation as science turns to the lowly plant as the source for a new vaccine to stop the dreaded Norovirus. Also known as the cruise ship virus, Norovirus is responsible for the sudden onset of diarrhea and vomiting. In addition to cruise ships, it often strikes hotels, nursing homes and colleges...

Emeritus Pavilion at Crossing Point in Orlando In Partial Quarantine With Norovirus

Posted on August 17, 2009
Managers of institutions like the Emeritus Pavilion at Crossing Point in Orlando will breathe a sign of relief this year when mass illness turns out to be ordinary norovirus and not Swine Flu. The Emeritus Pavilion--a multi-story facility for both independent  and assisted living—however still finds itself in the middle of a mini quarantine with visitors being turned away with as many as ten residents are recovering from gastrointestinal problems including vomiting and diarrhea...

Spanish Study Finds Norovirus A Principal Definable Cause of Foodborne Illness

Posted on August 04, 2009
A study by the University Hospital in Albacete, Spain finds that noroviruses were the principal definable causes of foodborne illnesses.   Norovirus commonly causes pediatric diarrhea in the region of Spain where the hospital is located. The study found the role of noroviruses in mixed infections requires additional study...

Nevada Forest Fire Fighters Are Now Down With Norovirus

Posted on July 27, 2009
If there is a more dirty, dangerous job than forest fire fighting, we'd like to hear about it.  Earlier this month north of Reno along the edge of the Sierra Nevada wild fires required the help of about 600 forest fire fighters. Now fire fighters on the Tailer 1 and Red Rock fires are testing positive for norovirus...

From Cruise Ship To Casino, Norovirus Gets Around

Posted on July 07, 2009
  Whenever you are wishing you are on vacation you can usually pick up the newspaper and find reasons to be glad you are at work. Just thinking about being on board the 400-passenger Marco Polo with 150 sick and one dead due to norovirus or checking into Reno's famous Peppermill Resort and Casino to find a wedding party there has norovirus are enough to make you glad your are not there...

Three Months Of Norovirus Outbreaks Leaves Northern New Zealand With Almost 400 Victims

Posted on July 05, 2009
New Zealand's Manawatu Standard is keeping score on the ongoing Norovirus outbreaks on the country's North Island. Staff Writer Janine Rankin reports: Nearly 400 people in Palmerston North and Horowhenua have been stricken by the bug norovirus in the past three months...

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