Last week’s Benton Franklin Health District meeting provided helpful information and resources for controlling the spread of norovirus and measles awareness.
Norovirus in Schools
Schools are a common source of norovirus outbreaks through personal contact, environmental contamination, foodborne contamination, and aerosolization of particles following a vomiting episode (25-foot radius!).
Norovirus does not respond to hand sanitizer, stays on hard surfaces for a very long time, and makes people really sick. It takes extra effort to stop the spread of the virus.
- Safe Cleaning and Disinfecting Guidance for Schools
- Selected EPA-Registered Disinfectants | US EPA
- Norovirus Outbreak Control Checklist for Schools or Child Care Centers
Measles awareness
The death of a child in Texas was the first death from measles of a child in twenty years. Measles is incredibly contagious; reporting any case in your community is important. With the increase nationally and WA’s first case of the year in late February, school staff should be familiar with how measles presents.
Measles can cause serious health complications, especially for babies and young children. The virus travels through direct contact with hands to face or in the air. It can stay active in the air for up to two hours after an infected person has left a room.
