Outbreak of norovirus illness in a college summer camp: impact of cleaning on occurrence of norovirus on fomites

SLM Fankem, SA Boone, M Gaither, CP Gerba - Journal of environmental …, 2014 - JSTOR
SLM Fankem, SA Boone, M Gaither, CP Gerba
Journal of environmental health, 2014JSTOR
During the summer of 2005 an outbreak of norovirus acute gastroenteritis occurred in a
residential college summer camp and was reported to the local health department. The
outbreak spread rapidly to several other groups concurrently sharing the same facilities.
During the investigation, fomites were sampled at different times in dorm rooms and tested
for norovirus. The number of norovirus-positive rooms increased after the first room cleaning,
from 40% to 73%. After the initial cleaning, the staff was instructed on proper cleaning and …
During the summer of 2005 an outbreak of norovirus acute gastroenteritis occurred in a residential college summer camp and was reported to the local health department. The outbreak spread rapidly to several other groups concurrently sharing the same facilities. During the investigation, fomites were sampled at different times in dorm rooms and tested for norovirus. The number of norovirus-positive rooms increased after the first room cleaning, from 40% to 73%. After the initial cleaning, the staff was instructed on proper cleaning and disinfection procedures and provided with disposable disinfecting wipes to reduce cross contamination, and the number of norovirus-positive rooms decreased to 30%. These findings reinforce the need for appropriate cleaning and disinfection procedures during a norovirus outbreak.
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