Yokohama Denentoshi Hospital norovirus outbreak sickens at least 112, four dead
Image/CIA
Norovirus has been seen at record levels in Japan this year with activity this year closing in on 2006 record levels of the gastrointestinal illness.
The outbreak at Yokohama Denentoshi Hospital has continued to spread with at least 112 patients and staff stricken with the viral disease.
Japan Today reports today that a total of 82 patients, including four deaths, and 30 staff had been infected as of Monday morning.
The four fatalities were elderly bed-ridden patients between 80 and 97 years of age according to a News on Japan report.
The Yokohama Municipal Government have inspected the hospital several times; however, the source of the infection still remains unknown.
Just a week ago, it was reported that 44 were sickened with norovirus and six patients died at Shunkokaihigashi Hospital in Nichinan, Miyazaki Prefecture.
Norovirus is a highly contagious illness caused by infection with a virus of the same name. It is often called by other names, such as viral gastroenteritis, stomach flu, and food poisoning.
The symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and some 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. In most people, the illness is self-limiting with symptoms lasting for about 1 or 2 days. In general, children experience more vomiting than adults do.
However, as in the above case, in addition to children, elderly people are especially vulnerable to the infection.
Norovirus is spread person to person particularly in crowded, closed places. Norovirus is typically spread through contaminated food andwater, touching surfaces or objects contaminated with norovirus and then putting your hand or fingers in your mouth and close contact with someone who is vomiting or has diarrhea.
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