The Spokane Regional Health District had announced that they are investigating reports of stomach illness incidence at the House of Charity shelter in Spokane Washington over the weekend. The announcement comes after 12 people who were staying at the House of Charity reported feeling sick and were evaluated at local hospitals. Officials said that their symptoms included diarrhea, nausea and vomiting which are all consistent with Norovirus. Tests confirmation is still being awaited.
In 2016, the House of Charity had a Norovirus outbreak where at least 60 people fell ill. The people who were sick with the virus were quarantined inside the building. Nearly 140 healthy people slept in tents outside of the homeless shelter during this period. SRHD they are working with the staff of House of Charity to identify potential sources of the disease. It is uncommon to find the source of such an outbreak according to the SRHD.
People are also complaining of headaches, fevers and chills and muscle aches. The symptoms usually begins 24 to 48 hours after ingestion of the virus. The sickness can lasts for 1 to 2 days. People who are sick with the disease can feel very ill. There is no specific treatment for norovirus infection except to drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration as reported by Krem2.
SRHD epidemiologists are following standard procedures in the investigation of the case. Each year, the health district investigates a number of intestinal illness outbreaks in Spokane County. Many of the illness are caused by norovirus. The virus spreads quickly in enclosed spaces like childcare centers, schools, nursing homes and shelters. Most of the norovirus outbreaks occur between November to April in the U.S. Health officials emphasizes the need for individual hygiene including careful and through washing of hands with soap and water and the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers to prevent the spread of the virus as reported in KHQ Q6.
