Aug 18 2009
Norovirus Suspected in Orlando-Area Senior Facility
An Orlando-area senior living facility is awaiting test results to determine the source of a virus that has sickened more than a dozen elderly residents. According to Dain Weister of the Orange County Health Department, last week 16 elderly residents at Emeritus at Crossing Pointe developed gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea, vomiting and nausea. With today’s heightened awareness of swine flu, that was the first concern, but Weister told me they have ruled that out. He said they have also determined it was not a food-borne illness. He said they suspect it could be norovirus, sometimes known as stomach flu.
Emeritus at Crossing Pointe offers independent living, assisted living and Alzheimer’s care to 179 residents. This past weekend, the facility was closed to visitors in an effort to stop the spread of the illness. As of today, just the second floor memory care unit is still closed since that is where the outbreak occurred. A few of the sick residents had to be hospitalized but all are now back at Emeritus, according to Weister.
Weister said norovirus outbreaks are not unusual in nursing homes. According to the Centers for Disease Control, norovirus is highly contagious. The symptoms usually include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and some stomach cramping. Sometimes people additionally have a low-grade fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, and a general sense of tiredness. The illness often begins suddenly, and the infected person may feel very sick. In most people the symptoms lasting for about 1 or 2 days. One of the most common complications of norovirus among the elderly is dehydration.