Illness is caused by contaminated food
FRANKFORT, Ky. (July 20, 2016) — Despite reports of an outbreak of norovirus at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, no Kentuckians have reported any symptoms of the illness, which is the leading cause of illlness and outbreaks from contaminated food in the U.S.
Most outbreaks occur in the food service settings such as restaurants. Infected food workers are frequently the source of the outbreaks, often by touching foods such as raw fruits and vegetables or surfaces with their infected, bare hands before serving them.
Symptoms include severe watery diarrhea, vomiting, fever, abdominal pain, loss of appetite and dehydration. Symptoms usually appear 12 to 48 hours after being exposed and most people recover within 1 to 3 days. Victims are most contagious when they are sick with the illness and during the first few days after recovering from the illness.
“This virus has been known to spread quickly from person to person in closed places, such as cruise ships, large conventions, schools and nursing homes,” said Dr. Ardis Hoven, infectious disease specialist at the Kentucky Department for Public Health (DPH). “Remember to practice good hygiene habits such as washing your hands often with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.”
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