Norovirus circulating in Washtenaw County, officials say

The highly contagious virus that can cause vomiting, diarrhea and low-grade fevers has been spreading quickly in clusters around the county, the Washtenaw County Health Department said Friday.

Officials have seen a recent big uptick in reports of a norovirus in the county and believe it has been circulating for about a month. A norovirus is a highly contagious virus that causes nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal cramping, as well as a headache, low-grade fever and body aches in some people. Symptoms last about one to two days.

“It’s extremely unpleasant,” said county Epidemiologist Laura Bauman. And because it’s so contagious, residents are being asked to be extra careful to stop the spread of the illness.

For instance, the virus can live at room temperature on surfaces for days. It can be spread through airborne particles, so if a person vomits, those virus particles can be inhaled by others in the immediate vicinity.

The virus is also shed through a person’s stool for up to two weeks, allowing it to continue to spread. Officials said it's extremely important for day care workers and restaurant workers to be diligent about cleaning properly and cleaning often.

Problem is, the norovirus is only killed by bleach, Bauman said. The state released a guide to different ratios of water and bleach to effectively kill the virus on surfaces.

Be careful about the cleaning supplies you purchase: Officials say many assume products, like Clorox wipes, contain bleach - but they don’t contain it unless the active ingredient in the cleaner says it contains sodium hypochlorite or NaOCl.

Recommendations also include frequent hand-washing and avoiding others and avoiding food preparation if you're ill. If people believe they became ill after eating at a restaurant, they can report it at www.reportfoodpoisoning.com or call 734-222-3800.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control also suggests carefully washing fruits and vegetables, and steaming oysters before eating them. Immediately remove and wash clothing and linensÂ with hot water and soapÂ after an episode of illness.

According to the CDC, there is no vaccine or treatment, including antibiotics, for those infected. One of the most common complications from being infected with the virus is dehydration, and those who are ill should drink plenty of liquids.

In a piece of good news, no bouts of the seasonal flu have been reported yet this flu season, and the last confirmed case of H1N1 flu reported to the county was two weeks ago, Bauman said.

Tina Reed covers health and the environment for AnnArbor.com. You can reach her at tinareed@annarbor.com, call her at 734-623-2535 or find her on Twitter @TreedinAA.