{"id":10260,"date":"2025-03-01T14:03:19","date_gmt":"2025-03-01T19:03:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www-test.dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/dhan290\/"},"modified":"2025-03-02T00:51:23","modified_gmt":"2025-03-02T05:51:23","slug":"dhan290","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www-test.dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/php\/alerts\/dhan290\/","title":{"rendered":"php\/alerts\/dhan290 ~  Division of Public Health &#8212; Health Alert  &#8211; Delaware Health and Social Services &#8211; State of Delaware"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-swiftype-index=\"true\">\n\n\n\n  <br>\n\n\n\n  <div class=\"container\" id=\"main_header\"> \n\n    <!-- BEGIN readspeaker div -->\n\n    <div class=\"rs_skip rsbtn rs_preserve\" id=\"readspeaker_button1\">\n\n      <a accesskey=\"L\" class=\"rsbtn_play\" href=\"https:\/\/app-na.readspeaker.com\/cgi-bin\/rsent?customerid=7262&#038;lang=en_us&#038;readid=main_content&#038;url=https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/php\/alerts\/dhan290.html\" title=\"Listen to this page using ReadSpeaker\">\n\n        <span class=\"rsbtn_left rsimg rspart\"><span class=\"rsbtn_text\"><span>Listen<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n\n        <span class=\"rsbtn_right rsimg rsplay rspart\"><\/span>\n\n      <\/a>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n    <!-- END readspeaker div -->\n\n\n\n    \n\n    <header class=\"pull-left\">\n\n      <h1>Delaware Health Alert Network #<!--[type=EDIT name=\"DHAN Number\"]-->290 <!--[END]--> <\/h1>\n\n      <h2> <!--[type=EDIT name=\"DHAN Date\"]-->January 10, 2013 11:09am <!--[END]--> <\/h2>\n\n    <\/header>\n\n  <\/div><br>\n\n \n\n  <div class=\"container\">\n\n    <div class=\"row\">\n\n      <div class=\"col-md-3\" id=\"leftCol\">\n\n        <div class=\"panel-group\" id=\"accordion\">\n\n          <div class=\"panel sectionmenu_panel\">\n\n            <div class=\"panel-heading\">\n\n              <p class=\"panel-title\"><a class=\"agency_nav\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapseOne\"><strong><i class=\"fa fa-align-justify fa-fw\"><\/i> Public Health Menu<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n            <\/div>\n\n\n\n            <div class=\"panel-collapse collapse in\" id=\"collapseOne\">\n\n              <div class=\"panel-body\" id=\"clf_nav\">\n\n                  <ul class=\"nav nav-stacked nav-pills-clf\" id=\"agency_sidebar\">\n    <li><a href=\"\/dph\/\"><h2>Home <i class=\"fa fa-home fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a><\/li>\n    <li class=\"toplevel\"><a data-parent=\"#agency_sidebar\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#HomeMenu\"><h2>About <i class=\"fa fa-caret-right fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a>\n      <ul class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"HomeMenu\">\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/about.html\">About DPH<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/sections.html\">Sections &#038; Programs<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/ofclocations.html\">Office Locations<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/contact.html\">Contact Info<\/a><\/li>\n      \n        <li><a href=\"\/calendars.html\" target=\"_blank\">Calendar<\/a><\/li>\n      <\/ul>\n    <\/li>\n    <li class=\"toplevel\"><a data-parent=\"#sidebar\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#ServicesMenu\"><h2>Services <i class=\"fa fa-caret-right fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a>\n      <ul class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"ServicesMenu\">\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/servicesaz.html\">A-Z Services<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/hsp\/environmental.html\">Air &#038; Water Quality<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/ss\/vitalstats.html\">Birth, Death, &#038; Marriage Records<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/clinics.html\">Clinics<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/healthdatastats.html\">Health Data &#038; Statistics<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/php\/emsps.html\">Emergency Preparedness<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/healthandwellness.html\">Health &#038; Wellness<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/hsp\/healthyhomes.html\">Healthy Homes<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/hsp\/healthywp.html\">Healthy Workplaces<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/lab\/labs.html\">Laboratory<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/hsp\/feir.html\">Restaurant Inspections<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/screen.html\">Screening and Testing<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/chca\/dphwichominf01.html\">WIC<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/servicesadd.html\">Additional Services<\/a><\/li><li>\n      <\/li><\/ul>\n    <\/li>\n    <li class=\"toplevel\"><a data-parent=\"#sidebar\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#InformationMenu\"><h2>Information <i class=\"fa fa-caret-right fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a>\n        <ul class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"InformationMenu\">\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/factsheetsaz.html\">A-Z Fact Sheets<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/pubreportsaz.html\">A-Z Publications &#038; Reports<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/diseasesandconditions.html\">Diseases &#038; Conditions<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/faq.html\">FAQ&#8217;s<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/php\/alerts.html\">Health Alerts<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/healthylifestyles.html\">Healthy Lifestyles<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/hipaa.html\">HIPAA<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/regs.html\">Regulations<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/forms.html\">Request Forms<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/links.html\">Links &#038; Resources<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"http:\/\/delaware.gov\/help\/foia_request.shtml\">FOIA Request Form<\/a><\/li>\n      <\/ul>\n    <\/li>\n    <li><a id=\"SocialMenuHeader\"><h2>Connect <i class=\"fa fa-thumbs-o-up fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a>\n      <ul id=\"SocialMenu\">\n        <li class=\"facebook\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/DEPublicHealth\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Division of Public Health Facebook Page\"><i class=\"fa fa-facebook-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Facebook<\/a><\/li>\n        <li class=\"twitter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Delaware_DHSS\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Delaware Health and Social Services Twitter Account\"><i class=\"fa fa-twitter-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Twitter<\/a><\/li>\n        <!-- <li class=\"googleplus\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-google-plus-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Google +<\/a><\/li>\n        <li class=\"flickr\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-flickr fa-lg\"><\/i> Flickr<\/a><\/li>\n        <li class=\"youtube\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-youtube-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Youtube<\/a><\/li>\n        <li class=\"instagram\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-instagram fa-lg\"><\/i> Instagram<\/a><\/li>\n        <li class=\"linkedin\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-linkedin-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Linkedin<\/a><\/li>\n        <li class=\"pinterest\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-pinterest-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Pinterest<\/a><\/li> -->\n      <\/ul>\n    <\/li>\n  <\/ul>\n\n              <\/div>\n\n            <\/div>\n\n          <\/div>\n\n        <\/div><br>\n\n      <\/div>\n\n\n\n      <div class=\"col-md-9\" id=\"main_content\"> \n\n  \n\n<h2 class=\"center\">Health\n\n<!--[type=EDIT name=\"DHANType\"]-->\n\n\n\n   Alert<!--[END]-->\n\n<br>\n\n<!--[type=EDIT name=\"DHAN Heading\"]-->\n\n\n\nINCREASING CLUSTERS OF NOROVIRUS CASES<!--[END]-->\n\n<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<!--[type=HTMLEDIT name=\"Content\"]-->\n\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) is issuing this health alert to provide healthcare providers with information regarding an\n\n\n  increase in clusters of norovirus cases, recommendations for infection control at healthcare facilities (both acute and long-term care),\n\n\n  and guidance for testing patients with gastroenteritis.\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<h3>\n\n\n  Summary\n\n\n<\/h3>\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  Over the past few weeks, DPH has received reports of gastroenteritis clusters from several healthcare facilities in Delaware. Norovirus\n\n\n  outbreaks in acute or long-term care settings can be prolonged; sometimes lasting months. Strict control measures (including isolation of\n\n\n  symptomatic patients, discouraging visitation, exclusion of affected staff, and restricting new admissions into affected units) are\n\n\n  disruptive and costly but are often required to curtail outbreaks.\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<h4>\n\n\n  Background\n\n\n<\/h4>\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), healthcare facilities, including nursing homes and hospitals, are the\n\n\n  most commonly reported settings for norovirus outbreaks in the United States (US). Approximately 59% of norovirus outbreaks in the US\n\n\n  have occurred in long-term care facilities and 4% in hospitals. Noroviruses are a group of viruses that cause gastroenteritis marked by\n\n\n  an acute onset of severe vomiting, watery diarrhea, and nausea, which occurs 12 to 48 hours after exposure to the virus and lasts 24 to\n\n\n  72 hours after onset of symptoms. Noroviruses spread very rapidly and are highly contagious. Young children, the elderly, and people with\n\n\n  other medical conditions are at highest risk for severe or prolonged infection. Norovirus illness often occurs during the winter months.\n\n\n  Shedding of the virus (peak: 2-5 days after onset) occurs primarily in stool but also in vomitus and is transmitted by contaminated\n\n\n  food\/water, person-to-person, fomites, and aerosols (from vomiting). There is no specific therapy for norovirus infections available\n\n\n  except for supportive care.\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  Healthcare facilities (including long-term care facilities and acute care hospitals) and other institutional settings such as daycares\n\n\n  and schools are particularly at risk for outbreaks because of increased person-to-person contact.\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<h4>\n\n\n  Infection Control Recommendations\n\n\n<\/h4>\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  Specific infection control recommendations for acute care and long-term care facilities are available at: <a href=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/dph\/pdf\/norovirusguidelines.pdf\">http:\/\/www.dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/epi\/files\/norovirusguidelines.pdf<\/a>\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<h4>\n\n\n  Laboratory Testing\n\n\n<\/h4>\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  For any patient in a sensitive situation (works in or is in a hospital, long-term care facility, food establishment, daycare, or school\n\n\n  where the organism can be readily spread) with signs and symptoms of gastroenteritis, healthcare providers are strongly encouraged to\n\n\n  order:\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<ul>\n\n\n  <li>Norovirus PCR testing &#038;\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>Stool culture (for identification of bacterial pathogens)\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<h4>\n\n\n  Reporting\n\n\n<\/h4>\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  Notify DPH, Bureau of Epidemiology (24\/7) of any gastroenteritis clusters at 1-888-295-5156. DPH will coordinate specimen testing for\n\n\n  norovirus and other enteric pathogens with the Delaware Public Health Laboratory (<a href=\"\/dph\/lab\/labs.html\">http:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/lab\/labs.html<\/a>).\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<h4>\n\n\n  Additional Information\n\n\n<\/h4>\n\n\n<ul>\n\n\n  <li>CDC info: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/norovirus\/index.html\">http:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/norovirus\/index.html<\/a>; <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/features\/dsnorovirus\/\">http:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/features\/dsnorovirus\/<\/a>\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>Norovirus information for healthcare providers: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/norovirus\/hcp\/index.html\">http:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/norovirus\/hcp\/index.html<\/a>\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>DPH Norovirus FAQ: <a href=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/dph\/pdf\/norwalkfaq.pdf\">http:\/\/www.dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/files\/norwalkfaq.pdf<\/a>\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>Delaware Division of Public Health, Bureau of Epidemiology (24\/7): 1-888-295-5156\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>Delaware Public Health Laboratory: 302-223-1520\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  ******************\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  You are receiving this message because you are a registered member of the Delaware Health Alert Network. If you are not a member and\n\n\n  would like to subscribe, please register at <a href=\"https:\/\/healthalertde.org\">https:\/\/healthalertde.org<\/a>\n\n\n<\/p><br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p class=\"smalltext\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.adobe.com\/products\/acrobat\/readstep2.html\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Download Adobe Acrobat Reader\" height=\"21\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/dhss\/img\/getacro60.gif\" width=\"60\"><\/a> Please note: Some of the files available on this page are in Adobe PDF format which requires Adobe Acrobat Reader.  A free copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader can be downloaded directly from <a href=\"http:\/\/www.adobe.com\/products\/acrobat\/readstep2.html\">Adobe <\/a>. If you are using an assistive technology unable to read Adobe PDF, please either view the corresponding text only version (if available) or visit Adobe&#8217;s <a href=\"http:\/\/access.adobe.com\">Accessibility Tools page<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--[END]-->\n\n  \n\n        <div class=\"panel panel-danger\">\n\n          <div class=\"panel-heading\">    \n\n      <h2>Categories of Health Alert messages:<\/h2>\n\n       <\/div>\n\n       <div class=\"panel-body\">\n\n      <ul>\n\n        <li><strong>Health Alert:<\/strong> Conveys the highest level of importance; warrants immediate action or attention.<\/li>\n\n        <li><strong>Health Advisory:<\/strong> Provides important information for a specific incident or situation; may not require immediate action.<\/li>\n\n        <li><strong>Health Update:<\/strong> Provides updated information regarding an incident or situation; unlikely to require immediate action.<\/li>\n\n            <\/ul>\n\n         <div><strong>NOTE: This page is for informational purposes only and dated material (e.g. temporary websites) may not be available.<\/strong><\/div>\n\n          <\/div> \n\n        <\/div><br>  \n\n\n\n      <\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n  <\/div><!-- \/container -->\n\n  <\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Listen Delaware Health Alert Network #290 January 10, 2013 11:09am Public Health Menu Home About About DPH Sections &#038; Programs Office Locations Contact Info Calendar Services A-Z Services Air &#038; Water Quality Birth, Death, &#038; Marriage Records Clinics Health Data &#038; Statistics Emergency Preparedness Health &#038; Wellness Healthy Homes Healthy Workplaces Laboratory Restaurant Inspections Screening [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"parent":9294,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-10260","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www-test.dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10260","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www-test.dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www-test.dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www-test.dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www-test.dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10260"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www-test.dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10260\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11436,"href":"https:\/\/www-test.dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10260\/revisions\/11436"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www-test.dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9294"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www-test.dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10260"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}