Ventura County confirms norovirus cases
The Ventura County Public Health Department, confirmed on Friday several Norovirus cases that infected numerous Oxnard area school students.
On March 8, several students in the Oxnard-based El Rio School District complained of nausea and vomiting, according to the Ventura County Public Health Department. The public health department, along with Ventura County Environmental Health, launched an investigation and discovered Norovirus was responsible for the students’ ailments.
“We’re following these cases closely,” said Public Health Officer Dr. Robert Levin. “And are encouraged that it seems to be on the decline, though we will continue to monitor it.”
WHAT IS NOROVIRUS?
According to the Ventura County Public Health Department:
Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that comes on rapidly and causes nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. The incubation time for this virus is 12-48 hours and the symptoms last one to three days. Norovirus can be transmitted through direct contact with another person who is infected, contaminated surface and or eating contaminated food. The virus can cause inflammation of the stomach, intestines or both. It’s common and is often found where large groups of people congregate, such as assisted-living centers, and schools.
HOW TO PREVENT NOROVIRUS?
Ventura County Public Health officials say the most effective way of preventing this illness is frequent hand washing, especially after using the restroom and before eating or drinking. “Other infection control measures are exclusion of symptomatic people from group settings and frequent environmental cleaning. Affected people should stay home from school or work and not return to their normal activities until they have been symptom-free for three days,” add health officials.
