Personal Injury Law

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

By Bill Marler

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.  On Saturday, more than 150 youth and advisors reported experiencing nausea and vomiting while attending the conference. They were evaluated and treated by Wake EMS at the hotel. Six people were hospitalized.

"Norovirus investigations are complex," said Wake County Environmental Health and Safety director Andre Pierce. "We have to interview everyone involved, look at lab samples and work closely with food handlers and preparers. In some cases, we never definitively find the source of the norovirus."
The County's epidemiological team has interviewed 152 people and have inspected several food service establishments.

The symptoms of norovirus illness 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 illness is self-limiting with symptoms lasting for about one or two days. In general, children experience more vomiting than adults.

Full post as published by Norovirus Blog on February 15, 2010 (boomark / email).