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NOROVIRUS MAKING ITSELF KNOWN IN DANE COUNTY

Public Health Madison & Dane County has received numerous reports of people sick with vomiting and diarrhea. This is most likely caused by norovirus, which usually circulates through the community every winter. Norovirus is highly contagious and spreads rapidly. The most important steps to take to prevent becoming ill are to wash your hands often, especially before you eat, and don't share food with anyone you know to be sick. If you are sick, the best ways to prevent spreading your illness to others is to wash your hands often, especially after using the bathroom, and to not prepare food for other people until you have been symptom-free for at least 48 hours.

Facts About Norovirus (CDC)

Norovirus is a highly contagious illness caused by infection with a virus called norovirus. It is often called by other names, such as viral gastroenteritis, stomach flu, and food poisoning.
The most common symptoms are diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach pain.
Anyone can get norovirus, and can have the illness multiple times during their lifetime.
Norovirus can make people feel extremely ill and vomit, or have diarrhea many times a day.
Most people get better within 1-2 days.
Dehydration can be a problem among some people with norovirus infection, especially the very young, the elderly and people with other illnesses.
Outbreaks of norovirus are common since it can spread so easily.
People with norovirus are contagious from the moment they begin feeling ill to at least 3 days and perhaps as long as 2 weeks after recovery, making control of this disease even more difficult.
Norovirus can spread rapidly in closed environments like daycare centers and nursing homes.
Noroviruses are found in the stool and vomit of infected people. People can become infected by

Eating or drinking liquids that are contaminated with norovirus
Touching surfaces that are contaminated with norovirus and then placing their hand in their mouth.
Having direct contact with an infected person; for example, by exposure to the virus when caring for or when sharing food, drinks, or eating utensils with an infected person.

There is no specific treatment or vaccine for norovirus

Tips to prevent the spread of norovirus

Practice proper hand hygiene: Wash your hands carefully with soap and water, especially after using the toilet and changing diapers and always before eating or preparing food. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers (containing at least 62% ethanol) may be a helpful addition to hand washing, but they are not a substitute for washing with soap and water. See Clean Hands Save Lives
Take care in the kitchen: Carefully wash fruits and vegetables, and cook oysters and other shellfish thoroughly before eating them.
Do not prepare food while infected: People who are infected with norovirus should not prepare food for others while they have symptoms and for 3 days after they recover from their illness.
Clean and disinfect contaminated surfaces: After an episode of illness, such as vomiting or diarrhea, immediately clean and disinfect contaminated surfaces by using a bleach-based household cleaner as directed on the product label or a solution made by adding 5-25 tablespoons of household bleach to 1 gallon of water.
Wash laundry thoroughly: Immediately remove and wash clothing or linens that may be contaminated with vomit or fecal matter. Handle soiled items carefully-without agitating them-to avoid spreading virus. They should be laundered with detergent at the maximum available cycle length and then machine dried.

Additional Resource

Norovirus in Health Care Settings, CDC

WHOOPING COUGH IS ON THE RISE IN DANE COUNTY: IMMUNIZATION IS THE BEST PROTECTION

Over the past several months, whooping cough (pertussis) has been on the rise in Dane County. Twenty-nine cases have been reported in Dane County since December 1, 2011 and more cases are expected. Other counties in Wisconsin have also seen an increase in pertussis. Pertussis can cause serious illness in infants, children, and adults, but it can be prevented through immunization.

What is Whooping Cough (Pertussis)?

Whooping Cough is a very contagious disease caused by a bacteria and spread by coughing and sneezing.
The disease starts like the common cold, with runny nose or congestion, sneezing, and maybe mild cough or fever.
After 1-2 weeks, severe coughing begins. Infants and children with the disease cough violently and rapidly, over and over, until the air is gone from their lungs and they're forced to inhale with a loud "whooping" sound. This cough can last up to 10 weeks.
Pertussis is most severe for babies; more than half of infants less than 1 year of age who get the disease must be hospitalized. About 1 in 5 infants with pertussis get pneumonia (lung infection), and about 1 in 100 will have convulsions. In rare cases (1 in 100), pertussis can be deadly, especially in infants.
To hear what pertussis sounds like go to www.pkids.org/diseases/pertussis.html.

Immunization is the Best Protection

The best protection for the family and community is to have all adults and children immunized.
The vaccine recommended for children is DTaP. This is a safe and effective combination vaccine that protects against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis.
Children need 5 DTaP shots---the first three given at 2,4, and 6 months of age; the fourth between 15 and 18 months, and the fifth shot at 4-6 years.
Make sure infants and young children get their recommended shots on time.
Adolescent and adult vaccination is also important, especially for families with new infants.
Vaccine protection for pertussis, tetanus and diphtheria can fade with time and adolescents and adults need to be revaccinated with a booster vaccine, Tdap, even if they were completely vaccinated as children.
Preteens going to the doctor for their regular check-up at age 11 or 12 should get a dose of Tdap. Tdap is required for school attendance for students in grades 6-12.
Adults who didn't get Tdap as a pre-teen or teen should get one dose of Tdap instead of the Td booster. Tdap can be given regardless of the amount of time since the last dose of Td.

Protecting an Infant

Getting vaccinated against pertussis is especially important for families who have an infant, and for those who have contact with infants.
Infants younger than 6 weeks of age cannot be immunized against pertussis. Even after DTaP is given, the vaccine is not fully effective until after three doses at about 6 months of age.
It is recommended that pregnant women who have not received the Tdap vaccine should be vaccinated during their 2nd or 3rd trimester. New moms who have not received the Tdap vaccine previously should get the vaccine in the hospital before going home with the baby, since mothers are the most common source of infections for infants.
By immunizing parents, siblings, grandparents, daycare providers and other close contacts of infants, a â€œcocoonâ€� against pertussis is formed around the infant reducing the chance that the infant will be exposed to pertussis.

If you don't know if you have received the Tdap vaccine already, you can check your immunization records at the Wisconsin Immunization Registry, http://dhfsWIR.org

For more information on pertussis, the vaccine, or getting immunized, contact your health care provider or Public Health-Madison and Dane County at 266-4821. Immunizations from Public Health-Madison and Dane County are free of charge.

Additional Resources:

DRUG POISONING: AN ALARMING EPIDEMIC IN DANE COUNTY

With the holidays fast approaching, festivities and parties will become popular with friends and family, and of course, food will be the center of attention. Make sure food safety is part of your holiday planning from start to finish in order to prevent foodborne illness.

Poisoning has steadily increased in the past 10 years and has surpassed motor vehicle crashes as the leading cause of injury death. The majority of all poisonings, both death and those that end up at the hospital, are due to drugs – prescription, over-the-counter and illicit. Of particular concern are opiate pain medications that can result in dependence and abuse. For more information about Dane County drug poisoning data, including those that die, visit the hospital, are revived, arrested or treated, and youth drug behavior, click on the documents below:

Local Strategies to Address this Epidemic:

In Dane County, a community-wide, multidisciplinary approach is being coordinated by Safe Communities, a local public-private partnership that supports and sustains a range of safety initiatives. A summit will take place on January 30, 2012 to bring together multidisciplinary groups to locally address this growing epidemic. See Stop the Drug Overdose Epidemic, for registration details.

For a strategy map on the multidisciplinary approach taken by Safe Communities, see Partners On Board to Stop the Drug Overdose Epidemic

It is important to decrease the access of prescription drugs to those of all ages by making sure medications are securely stored and unwanted medications properly disposed. In Dane County, the MedDrop program provides four permanent drop boxes for year round disposal of medications:

Madison Police East Precinct - 809 South Thompson Drive
- Available 8 am-4 pm Monday-Friday
Middleton Police Department - 7341 Donna Drive
- Available 24 hours in the lobby
Fitchburg Police Department - 5520 Lacy Road
- Available 7:30 am-4:30 pm Monday-Friday
Sun Prairie Police Department - 300 E. Main Street
- Available 24 hours in the lobby

For more information on how to use MedDrop and what items you can and can't dispose of at MedDrop boxes, see Safe Communities website: MedDrop - The Best Place to Get Rid of Medicines

National Data and Strategies:

For more information about drug overdoses and what can be done on a national level: