The Yolo County Health & Human Services Agency (HHSA) declares the end of the Norovirus school outbreak. This announcement comes a little over a month after the first cases were reported by local Yolo County schools.
Yolo County announced on May 12, 2017 that over 952 students were reporting a Gastrointestinal (GI) Illness. Since that time HHSA has been monitoring the attack rate and working closely with the school systems to control the spread. To date the department has received reports of GI Illness for 4,266 students and staff from schools throughout Yolo County. Over the past week the numbers have declined and continue to decline each day.
With regular school activities suspending for the summer and the declining numbers observed, HHSA believes the outbreak in the school district to be largely contained. However, the agency cautions that transmission may continue or shift to summer camps and childcare centers.
In preparation HHSA has been in communication with summer camps and child care centers to provide special guidelines for prevention of transmission. If staff have further questions and/or observe unusual levels of GI symptoms they are strongly encouraged to contact the Community Health Branch of HHSA for guidance and to implement recommended control measures.
“Yolo County will continue to monitor and support the school systems in their effort to prevent and respond to any suspected cases,” said Yolo County Public Health Officer Ron Chapman, MD, MPH. “People must also remain vigilant with their hand hygiene and recognize the signs and symptoms of Norovirus.”
Norovirus is common in our environment and is highly contagious, but it is important to note that the spread of Norovirus can be prevented by practicing proper hand hygiene. Strategies include washing hands with soap and water, especially after using the toilet and changing diapers, and always before eating, preparing or handling food.
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