‘Stomach flu’ spreading in Tri-Cities. Walla Walla schools and care facilities of concern

Cases of the “stomach flu” are on the rise in the Tri-Cities area, along with the rest of the state of Washington, according to reports received by the Benton Franklin Health District.

Walla Walla County also it getting reports of more stomach illnesses and its Department of Community Health is investigating suspected cases of norovirus, including in schools and in long-term care facilities for the elderly, it said Friday.

The highly contagious norovirus is commonly referred to as “food poisoning” or the “stomach flu,” and common symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, nausea and stomach cramping.

Norovirus outbreaks can happen any time of the year but commonly peak in February and March, said Dr. Larry Jecha, interim health officer for Benton and Franklin counties.

“The national trend suggests we’ve already surpassed last year’s peak, and infections in people over 65 are in excess of recent years,” he said.

The Benton Franklin Health District has sent a health advisory on norovirus to hospitals, medical providers and emergency management teams in the two counties.

On Thursday the health district’s environmental health and infectious disease staff met with school administrators to discuss the best cleaning methods and ways to prevent the spread of norovirus.

It is distributing “How to Protect Yourself Against Norovirus” fliers in English and Spanish to schools, parents and businesses. The fliers include information on best practices for disinfecting.

It also is providing fliers with information about norovirus to restaurants and other places serving food and drink. The fliers are available in English, Spanish and Chinese.

Norovirus lives for days

Medical providers are not required to make public health reports of norovirus, but public health officials in the Tri-Cities are monitoring it through hospital data.

The Benton Franklin Health District also is monitoring and investigating norovirus outbreaks at care facilities for the elderly.

It is the most common cause of acute gastroenteritis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Norovirus can live on surfaces for days, according to the Benton Franklin Health District.

A person with norovirus will infect an average of two to seven other people and that it is possible to spread norovirus even if you don’t have symptoms, it said.

The CDC says the norovirus can be spread by touching surfaces or object contaminated with norovirus and then touching your mouth or food.

It can be spread by eating food or drinking liquids contaminated with norovirus, or by contact with a person with norovirus, such as by caring for them, sharing food, sharing bedding or changing diapers.

The local health district quotes the CDC as saying that six in 10 infections are through direct contact, like shaking hands or touching door handles and then touching your mouth.

Preventing norovirus spread

Hand sanitizer does not work well against norovirus, according to the health district.

It recommends at least 20 seconds of handwashing with soap and warm or hot water. That should happen after using the toilet or changing diapers; before eating or preparing food; and after handling the bedding of someone who is ill.

Norovirus is difficult to kill, with only bleach and non-chlorine bleaches approved by the Environmental Protection Agency effective against it.

Handwashing dishes does not kill norovirus because the water is not hot enough. The Benton Franklin Health District recommends using the longest dishwasher setting for contaminated dishes, and drying clothes and linens on the hottest dryer setting.

The health district provides best-practice instructions for cleaning in information it posted at bfhd.wa.gov on Thursday.

The illness usually lasts just a day or two.

But some people are at risk for more severe infections.

They include children younger than 5, adults 85 and older, people with weakened immune systems or other medical conditions, and people who are pregnant.

One of the biggest risks of norovirus is dehydration.

Young children who become dehydrated may have a dry mouth, lack of energy and urinate less than usual.

Symptoms such as bloody vomit or diarrhea, high fever, not keeping liquids down and severe abdominal pain require immediate medical care at any age, according to the health district.