Teens, camp staff contract flu-like symptoms

Fifty-nine teenagers and four staff in a youth wrestling camp at Northern Arizona University are displaying flu-like symptoms.

Five individuals required treatment at Flagstaff Medical Center late Wednesday night and on Thursday.

The Coconino County Health Department and NAU's Fronske Health Center are investigating the cause of the outbreak and are expected to have laboratory results on Saturday. The university and the county have instituted necessary precautions to keep the outbreak from spreading.

Health professionals are monitoring the status of the affected individuals.

County health officials suspect the cause may be norovirus, which is highly contagious and causes nausea, diarrhea, vomiting and stomach cramps. Untended, these symptoms can result in severe dehydration.

Norovirus disease is not usually serious although people may feel very sick. Most people get better within one to two days, and they have no long-term health effects. However, if symptoms persist or are severe, medical attention should be sought.

There is no medication that combats norovirus, and there is no vaccine to prevent infection.

You can decrease your chance of coming into contact with norovirus by following these preventive steps:

• Frequently wash your hands especially after toilet visits or changing diapers and before eating or preparing food.
• Thoroughly clean and disinfect contaminated surfaces immediately after an episode of illness by using a bleach-based household cleaner (at least 10 percent bleach).
• Immediately remove and wash clothing or linens that may be contaminated with virus after an episode of illness (use hot water and soap).
• Flush or discard any vomitus and/or stool in the toilet and make sure that the surrounding area is kept clean.
• Carefully wash fruits and vegetables and steam oysters before eating them.

Persons who are infected with norovirus should not prepare food while they have symptoms and for 14 days after they recover from their illness. Food that may have been prepared or eaten by an ill person should be thrown away.