Republicans And Norovirus Barnstorm Iowa

Posted on December 24, 2011 by PritzkerLaw

Campaign buses aren’t the only things rolling through Iowa this week. A wave of Norovirus outbreaks is also rumbling through the state. Over the last 10 days, the Iowa Department of Public Health(IDPH) has been investigating reports of eight “medium to large outbreaks” of what is likely norovirus in five counties.

Norovirus, a common cause of viral gastroenteritis, is also called "the stomach bug." Symptoms include vomiting and diarrhea. Most of the outbreaks are associated with sick people preparing food for others, according to IDH.

“If you’re healthy and you’ve been healthy for the last few days, go ahead and mix up a batch of cookies or slice up a fruit tray,” said IDPH Medical Director Dr. Patricia Quinlisk. “But if you’ve had any sort of stomach illness, do not prepare food of any kind for others. In particular, symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea should be your ticket out of the kitchen until 48 hours have passed since your recovery.”

Three groups became sick after eating at a restaurant where several food handlers had also been ill. Outbreaks were also associated with events like holiday parties and holiday potlucks, where foods were likely prepared and served by recently ill people, IDH said.

“We’re also getting lots anecdotal reports of probable norovirus outbreaks in other areas of the state,” Quinlisk added. “This virus can be a real holiday spoiler, making your friends and loved ones sick for several days. So, if you are or have been sick, you’ll just have to wait for the next opportunity to make your signature fudge-you’re off kitchen duty until 48 hours after your symptoms have stopped!”

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Norovirus Outbreak Prompts ASSI Brand Oyster Recall

Posted on November 6, 2011 by PritzkerLaw

A norovirus outbreak that has sickened at least three people in Washington state has prompted a recall of ASSI brand frozen, shucked oyster meat from Korea.

Korean Farms of Sante Fe Springs, Calif., the distributor, is recalling three-pound bags of frozen, shucked oyster meat labeled  ASSI Brand “INDIVIDUALLY QUICK FROZEN OYSTER” with a “Better if Used By” date of “2013.02.232.” 

The bags were distributed to eight states: Washington, California, Texas, Colorado, Arizona, Alaska, Idaho, and Utah in boxes of 10 bags each with the lot number C-110223, appearing on each shipping carton , along with a “SHUCKED DATE: 2011.02.24.Some of the oysters were served in a Washington state restaurant where three diners who ate them became ill.

Norovirus causes acute gastroenteritis (inflammation of the stomach and intestines). The most common symptoms are nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach pain. The illness often begins suddenly and norovirus can make people feel extremely ill with frequent vomiting and diarrhea. Most people get better within 1 to 2 days. Dehydration can be a problem among some people with norovirus infection, especially the very young, the elderly, and people with other illnesses.
Norovirus is highly contagious. People with norovirus are contagious from the moment they begin feeling ill to at least 3 days and perhaps for as long as 2 weeks after recovery, making control of this disease difficult.  Norovirus can spread quickly in settings such as day care centers or nursing homes. Health officials urge anyone with these symptoms to seek medical attention immediately. 

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Pineville Hospital Norovirus Outbreak

Posted on May 11, 2010 by PritzkerLaw
Health officials in Louisiana say Norovirus is responsible for an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness that resulted in three deaths and some 40 illnesses at a mental hospital in Pineville.
 
According to a report from The Associated Press, patients began feeling ill and showing signs of sickness on the morning of May 7.  By late that night three patients had died. Eleven patients and four staff members were treated at Huey P. Long Medical Center.
 
Noroviruses are a group of viruses that cause the “stomach flu.”  Noroviruses are very contagious. They usually are found in contaminated food or drinks, but they also can live on surfaces or be spread through contact with an infected person.
 
But while they are a well-known threat in confined spaces such as cruise ships, they normally do not cause deaths.
 
As the investigation continues, food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen is accepting cases from this outbreak. To contact a Norovirus lawyer on our staff, call 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete our contact  form on the side of this Web page.
 
Pritzker Olsen is a leading practitioner of foodborne illness litigation for victims of food poisoning. Over the years we have collected millions for clients, including Norovirus outbreak victims.
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Norovirus in Baxter Minnesota Church Fundraiser May Have Been the Cause

Posted on May 1, 2010 by PritzkerLaw

The Minnesota Department of Health is investigating a possible outbreak of Norovirus in Baxter, Minnesota, stemming from a church banquet last Sunday that was held as a fundraiser.

WCCO-TV reports that 275 people attended the Pathways of Brainerd fundraiser at Lakewood Evangelical Free Church. The problem was reported Thursday and there are no reports yet as to how many people were sickened.

The health department told WCCO that the fundraiser was catered by Baxter's Prairie Bay Restaurant.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, noroviruses are a specific group of viruses that can cause gastroenteritis -- inflammation of the stomach and intestines. The main symptoms are diarrhea, vomiting and stomach pain. Some people might experience fever, chills, headache, muscle aches and fatigue.

Norovirus symptoms usually appear one or two days after eating the contaminated food, but can start in as few as 12 hours. Most healthy people recover without treatment, but infections can cause dehydration that can cause serious problems.

If you or someone you know was sickened at the banquet and have legal questions about the outbreak, call a food safety lawyer at Pritzker Olsen in Minneapolis for a free consultation at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete the consultation form on the side of this Web page.

Our law firm practices extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation and has years of experience representing victims of food poisoning.

 

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Norovirus Outbreak tied to Oyster Beds

Posted on March 26, 2010 by PritzkerLaw

An oyster harvesting area off the Louisiana coast will remain closed for at least 21 days in connection with a Norovirus outbreak that occurred at a seafood conference in Mississippi.

 

The closure of the Plaquemines Parish molluscan shellfish harvesting area was ordered by the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals Wednesday. The order also recalled all oysters harvested from the area since March 6, including shucked, frozen, breaded and post-harvest processed oysters, and oysters for the half shell market.

"Health Officer Dr. Jimmy Guidry signed the closure order when the Department was notified by the Mississippi State Department of Health that a Norovirus outbreak may have been caused by oysters harvested from Basin 4, Area 7,'' said a press release. 

Eleven people at the seafood conference were sickened and one was hospitalized.

Norovirus is a virus that causes flu-like symptoms of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramping for one to two days on average. Occasional symptoms may include low-grade fever, chills, headache, muscle aches and fatigue.

The food most commonly associated with Norovirus outbreaks is shellfish. Clams, oysters and other shellfish can become contaminated from raw sewage dumped by boaters. Water, ice, produce and ready-to-eat foods are also common sources of Norovirus infection.

 

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Norovirus Ruled Out in Convention Outbreak

Posted on March 24, 2010 by PritzkerLaw

Bacterial toxins -- not Norovirus -- probably caused an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness in about 150 of 1,000 attendees at a YMCA Youth and Government meeting in Raleigh, North Carolina, in early February. Five were hospitalized.

That is the followup report from WRAL-TV in Raleigh, quoting health officials including state epidemiologist Dr. Megan Davies.

Said Davies: “The timing of the outbreak and the fact that most sick attendees had only diarrhea and not vomiting make it unlikely that norovirus was the main cause. Still, some students might have had norovirus when they arrived at the conference in Raleigh.”

WRAL reported that health investigators surveyed more than half of the conference attendees. Investigators found that students who ate at a February 12 banquet at the convention center were almost three times more likely to get sick as those who didn't attend the banquet. No other meals were associated with illness, officials said.

The short time between the dinner and the onset of illness makes it more likely that bacterial toxins, a common cause of food poisoning, were to blame, the station reported.
 
Bacterial toxins typically cause diarrhea, stomach cramps or vomiting within a few hours of eating contaminated food. The keys to preventing food-borne illness caused by these toxins are thoroughly washing raw ingredients to reduce bacteria on the food; keeping cooked foods separate from raw, uncooked foods; thoroughly cooking meat and poultry; and keeping cooked foods at safe temperatures after cooking.
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Cruise Ship Norovirus Outbreaks Halt Ship

Posted on March 16, 2010 by PritzkerLaw

We are not handling these cases.


 

Passengers have been compensated for the interrupted itinerary, said Celebrity Cruises spokeswoman Cynthia Martinez.

"Guests currently onboard Celebrity Mercury received an onboard credit in the amount of one day of the cruise fare paid for their sailing, as well as a future cruise certificate for 25 percent of the cruise fare paid," she said in an e-mail to CNN.


 

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Raleigh Norovirus Hits YMCA Conference

Posted on February 15, 2010 by PritzkerLaw

Health officials in Wake County, North Carolina, confirmed Norovirus as the cause of an outbreak of vomiting and nausea at a YMCA youth and government conference in downtown Raleigh.

More than 150 youth and advisors began experiencing nausea and vomiting Friday night after a catered dinner and a fleet of ambulances was sent to the downtown Raleigh Sheraton Hotel to treat victims. The county said six were hospitalized.

Epidemiologists are still looking for the source of the outbreak. Since it  was reported, the county’s epidemiological team has interviewed 152 people and inspected several food service establishments as part of the ongoing investigation into a cause of the norovirus outbreak. Control measures have been put in place at food service establishments to reduce the spread of norovirus, including:

  • Sanitizing with chlorine.
  • Emptying and sanitizing ice buckets
  • Restricting bare hand contact with food
  • Evaluating food service employee health

If you were affected by this outbreak and have questions about possible legal compensation, contact national food poisoning law firm Pritzker Olsen at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete our contact form on the side of this Web page. We are a leading national practitioner of foodborne illness litigation and we have been helping victims collect compensation for years.

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Raleigh Convention Center Food Poisoning Strikes YMCA Conference

Posted on February 14, 2010 by PritzkerLaw

Epidemiologists are studying what caused more than 150 people to fall ill with diarrhea, vomitting and stomach cramping after a catered dinner Friday night at Raleigh Convention Center.

The event was part of a regional youth and government conference held by YMCA. According to a report on the apparent foodborne illness outbreak by the Charlotte News and Observer newspaper, at least five attendees were hospitalized.

The illnesses were so sudden and widespread that ambulances were sent to the downtown Raleigh Sheraton Hotel where many of the sick were staying. The newspaper said at least 20 ambulances and several firetrucks were parked along Salisbury Street behind the hotel throughout Saturday morning.

Wake County health investigators interviewed students Saturday afternoon to determine whether the illness might have been caused by a food-borne pathogen.  

Wake County spokeswoman Marshall Parrish said epidemiologists will be studying the outbreak over the next few days or weeks in an attempt to find the cause.

If you were affected by this outbreak and have questions about possible legal compensation, contact national food poisoning law firm Pritzker Olsen at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete our contact form on the side of this Web page. We are a leading national practitioner of foodborne illness litigation and we have been helping victims collect compensation for years.

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122 Sick in NJ Schools Norovirus Suspected

Posted on February 10, 2010 by PritzkerLaw
New Jersey's Hunterdon County Department of Health is investigating an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness — possibly norovirus — in three elementary schools and a daycare center.
 
A county press release says the virus currently affects 122 people ranging in age from Pre-Kindergarten  to adult. Although lab tests have not yet confirmed norovirus, the illness and how it spread is consistent with a norovirus outbreak. 
 
Since the onset of this outbreak in mid-January, county health officials have teamed with nurses and staff at the affected schools to conduct surveillance for additional cases and to review infection control practices. In turn, the schools are keeping parents informed through communications to the home.
 
Norovirus causes a gastrointestinal illness producing nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea. Most people become infected by eating food or drinking liquids contaminated with norovirus, or by touching surfaces or objects tainted by the virus and then touching their mouth. It is also possible to contract the virus through direct contact with a person who is infected and experiencing symptoms.
 
Norovirus, formerly known as Norwalk Virus, is typically short-lived in healthy adults, but it is possible for people who have weakened immune systems to become seriously ill.  If you have legal questions about a family medical situation arising from this outbreak, contact a food safety lawyer at Pritzker Olsen at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete our contact form on the side of this Web page. We have years of experience in representing victims of foodborne illness.
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Sapphire Princess Norovirus Outbreak

Posted on June 6, 2009 by PritzkerLaw

We are not handling these cases.

Noroviruses are a group of viruses that cause the “stomach flu,” or gastroenteritis. Noroviruses are very contagious. They usually are found in contaminated food or drinks, but they also can live on surfaces or be spread through contact with an infected person.

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