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Jackson County Norovirus Source of Article: http://www.panhandleparade.com/index.php/mbb/article/jackson_county_norovirus/mbb7713653/ Visitation at three area correctional
institutions was suspended over the weekend due to a norovirus
outbreak. According to the Florida Department of
Corrections Web site, the Jackson Correctional Institution, Jackson Work Camp
and Graceville Work Camp have reported outbreaks of the common virus, which
causes symptoms similar to the stomach flu. No other institutions in “The health department has been working with
infection control personnel on this issue and as a result they are
quarantining the individuals who they have confirmed have contracted the norovirus,” Long said. Long said norovirus is
a rather common illness.“A
lot of people describe it as a stomach flu characterized by nausea, vomiting,
fatigue headache or sweats,” Long said. Long said DOC has restricted visitation at the
three facilities to keep the virus from going into and out of the
institutions. “It could have originated from spoiled food, poor
sanitation, poor personal hygiene, that all often leads to its transmission.
In the case we don’t know yet. The best weapon against transmission is
washing hands well, making certain that eating utensils are clean, that type
of thing,” Long explained. He said a person who contracts the virus could
show symptoms anywhere from two days to several days. “It’s typically not life threatening. Some
dehydration may occur as a result of the symptoms ... Those who feel they may
have contracted it may call their physician, or of course the emergency room
if it’s after hours,” Long said. As of Friday, DOC reported that 84 inmates at JCI
were affected. The closure of the two work camps to visitation
was precautionary, DOC reported. According to the administration at the Jackson
County Correctional Facility, the jail is not experiencing an outbreak and
visitation there is not affected. DOC suggested that prospective visitors after
this weekend call JCI, JWC or GWC to determine whether visitation is
reopened. |
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