{"id":10264,"date":"2025-03-01T14:03:20","date_gmt":"2025-03-01T19:03:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www-test.dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/dhan294\/"},"modified":"2025-03-02T00:51:24","modified_gmt":"2025-03-02T05:51:24","slug":"dhan294","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www-test.dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/php\/alerts\/dhan294\/","title":{"rendered":"php\/alerts\/dhan294 ~  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\/dhan294.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\"]-->294 <!--[END]--> <\/h1>\n\n      <h2> <!--[type=EDIT name=\"DHAN Date\"]-->January 25, 2013 1:47 pm <!--[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\nUPDATE IN INCREASING CLUSTERS OF NOROVIRUS CASES AND DETECTION OF NEW NOROVIRUS VARIANT IN DELAWARE\n\n\n<!--[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 updated information\n\n\n  regarding an increase in clusters of norovirus cases and information regarding a new strain of norovirus (GII.4 Sydney) currently\n\n\n  circulating in the United States (US) and now detected in Delaware.\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<h3>\n\n\n  Summary\n\n\n<\/h3>\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  Since January 1, 2013, DPH has investigated 13 reports of gastroenteritis clusters from healthcare facilities in Delaware, of which 8\n\n\n  (62%) were laboratory confirmed as norovirus. During the same period last year (January 2012), DPH investigated 6 reports of\n\n\n  gastroenteritis clusters from healthcare facilities in Delaware (less than half the number under current investigation), of which 4 (67%)\n\n\n  were laboratory confirmed as norovirus. The Delaware Public Health Laboratory (DPHL) is currently sub-typing norovirus strains. To date,\n\n\n  DPHL has sub-typed specimens from one outbreak, which has been confirmed as the GII.4 Sidney strain. DPH is recommending that health\n\n\n  professionals remain vigilant to detect potential increases in norovirus infection this season due to spread of the new norovirus\n\n\n  variant, GII.4 Sydney.\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<h3>\n\n\n  Background\n\n\n<\/h3>\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released a health alert about a new strain of norovirus, GII.4 Sydney, that is circulating in the\n\n\n  US. CDC researchers analyzed 2012 data collected through the surveillance network CaliciNet on norovirus strains associated with\n\n\n  outbreaks in the US. They found that 53% (141\/266) of norovirus outbreaks reported during the last four months of 2012, were caused by\n\n\n  the GII.4 Sydney strain. The new strain was first detected in Australia in March 2012, and has spread rapidly across the US. According to\n\n\n  the CDC, healthcare facilities, including nursing homes and hospitals, are the most commonly reported settings for norovirus outbreaks\n\n\n  because of the increased person-to-person contact. Approximately 59% of norovirus outbreaks in the US have occurred in long-term care\n\n\n  facilities; 4% in hospitals.\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  Noroviruses are a group of viruses that cause gastroenteritis marked by an acute onset of severe vomiting, watery diarrhea, and nausea,\n\n\n  which occurs 12 to 48 hours after exposure to the virus and lasts 24 to 72 hours after onset of symptoms. Noroviruses spread very rapidly\n\n\n  and are highly contagious. Norovirus illness often occurs during the winter months. Shedding of the virus (peak: 2-5 days after onset)\n\n\n  occurs primarily in stool but also in vomitus and is transmitted by contaminated food\/water, person-to-person, fomites, and aerosols\n\n\n  (from vomiting).\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<h3>\n\n\n  Infection Control Recommendations\n\n\n<\/h3>\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  Outbreaks in acute or long-term care settings can be prolonged; sometimes lasting months. Strict control measures including contact\n\n\n  isolation (gowns and gloves when caring for symptomatic patients), discouraging visitation, exclusion of affected staff, and restricting\n\n\n  new admissions into affected units) can be disruptive but are often required to curtail outbreaks.Close attention should be paid to good\n\n\n  hand washing practices (preferably with soap and water). Masks and eye protection (in addition to gowns and gloves) should be used when\n\n\n  handling patient\u2019s vomitus or feces as norovirus can (at least theoretically) be transmitted by aerosol from vomitus.\n\n\n<\/p>\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<h3>\n\n\n  Reporting\n\n\n<\/h3>\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 stool specimen testing\n\n\n  for 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<h3>\n\n\n  Additional Information\n\n\n<\/h3>\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<\/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 #294 January 25, 2013 1:47 pm 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 [&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-10264","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www-test.dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10264","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=10264"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www-test.dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10264\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11440,"href":"https:\/\/www-test.dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10264\/revisions\/11440"}],"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=10264"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}