Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Health Infectious Disease topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Skagit County public health warns of norovirus surge; reminds residents that handwashing, isolation reduce spread
Summary
Skagit County Public Health Director Sarah Hinman told the Board of Health that local norovirus cases have risen since December and that long-term care facilities are a focus of prevention work; the director also reviewed COVID and flu trends and advised isolation and soap-and-water handwashing.
Skagit County Public Health Director Sarah Hinman told the Board of Health on Feb. 11 that the county has seen an increase in norovirus cases since December and is working with long-term care facilities to prevent and contain outbreaks.
Hinman said norovirus is highly infectious, is the leading cause of foodborne illness in the United States, and is commonly reported in nursing homes and hospitals. She described typical symptoms as nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps and diarrhea, and said most people are sick for one to three days but can continue to shed virus for several weeks after recovery. Hinman warned that alcohol-based hand sanitizer is not reliably effective against norovirus and encouraged washing hands with soap and water.
"Soap and water are very effective for killing germs, but hand sanitizer is not because alcohol is not effective against norovirus," Hinman said.
Hinman also marked the five-year anniversary of the federal COVID public health emergency and reviewed recent COVID and influenza activity. She said late-December national reporting showed roughly 600 COVID deaths per week in the United States — down from the Omicron peak in late 2021 — and reminded residents that COVID continues to cause substantial illness. She reiterated county guidance that people with COVID should stay home at least 24 hours after fever ends and symptoms improve, and consider masking and distancing for five additional days.
Separately, Hinman said state and national reporting indicated a severe influenza season, describing it as "the worst flu season we've had in 19 years," and urged awareness of co-circulating respiratory and gastrointestinal pathogens.
The Board and meeting participants discussed practical prevention steps. A physician attending the meeting described norovirus as extremely contagious based on clinical experience and emphasized hydration and isolation for symptomatic people. Board members and presenters emphasized that many outbreaks stem from direct person-to-person spread and from contaminated food, utensils or surfaces.
The Board did not take formal action on the update; the remarks were delivered as part of the public health director's report and informational updates.
