Monterey County is experiencing an increase in viral gastroenteritis, often referred to as “stomach flu.” Many of the reported ill are school-aged children. Viral gastroenteritis is usually caused by a group of viruses called noroviruses. The symptoms of norovirus illness include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and/or stomach cramping. Sometimes people additionally have a low-grade fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, and a general sense of tiredness. The illness often begins suddenly, and the infected person may feel very sick. The illness is usually brief, with symptoms lasting only about 1 or 2 days.
At this time, the Health Department recommends active monitoring of students and staff for symptoms consistent with viral gastroenteritis. The following infection prevention and control measures should be implemented if symptoms of viral gastroenteritis are detected at your school:
- Notify the appropriate authority per your school’s policy and the Monterey County Health Department (831-755-4521).
- Send ill students and staff home immediately. Confine symptomatic students to a room or segregated area until they can leave. Students and staff experiencing symptoms should not attend school until 48 hours after symptoms have stopped.
- Keep a record of absenteeism that includes at minimum the number of students absent per classroom per day.
- Encourage all students and staff to wash their hands frequently with soap and water, especially before and after eating as well as after using the restroom.
- Minimize the movement of students. Postpone all non-essential assemblies.
- Persons experiencing symptoms should not be involved with food preparation or food handling.
- Increase the frequency of cleaning bathrooms and shared common areas. Consider the use of gloves and masks for cleaning staff.
- Clean and disinfect vomit and fecal spillages promptly.
- Use an Environmental Protection Agency-approved disinfectant for norovirus or a freshly prepared sodium hypochlorite solution (e.g., household chlorine bleach in a 1:100 {500ppm} to 1:10 {5,000ppm} dilution) to disinfect surfaces contaminated with feces or emesis. Doorknobs, light switches, computer keyboards, shared writing utensils, phones, and handrails should be included in the disinfection process.
- Metal chairs/desks and stationary furniture residing in classrooms of persons who have been vomiting should be washed with disinfecting solution.
- All bathroom surfaces, including floors should be disinfected.
- Clean soiled carpets and soft furnishings with hot water and detergent or steam clean. Dry vacuuming is not recommended.
For more information, please contact the Monterey County Health Department’s Communicable Disease Unit (831-755-4521) or refer to the following documents:
- Guidelines for the Control of Norovirus in Educational Settings: http://www.mtyhd.org/images/stories/Public_HealthBureau/CDU/Schools/MCHD_Norovirus_guidelinesfor_schools.pdf
- Guidelines for Reporting Illnesses in the Educational Setting: http://www.mtyhd.org/images/stories/Public_HealthBureau/CDU/Schools/MCHD_SchoolReportingGuidelines_10212011.pdf
- Communicable Disease Report Form for Educational Settings: 2011-2012: http://www.mtyhd.org/images/stories/Public_HealthBureau/CDU/Schools/MCHD_SchoolReportingForm_10212011.pdf
2/28/2012
