Students and staff from Mamquam Elementary School who went on a field trip to Alice Lake last week contracted norovirus at some time during the outing, public health officials have confirmed.
Cynthia Watson, Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) environmental health officer, on Tuesday (June 26) confirmed that norovirus - a virulent gastrointestinal illness usually characterized by vomiting and diarrhea -struck some 41 students and staff a day after a field trip to the lake on Tuesday, June 19.
She declined to speculate on how the virus might have been contracted and transmitted, except to say that it likely would have begun with someone who went on the trip who was ill.
"Norovirus can be spread by someone who vomits it can also spread on surfaces such as countertops; it can survive for a long time on surfaces such as countertops or sink taps," Watson said. "Also, it can be spread by people who don't wash their hands and people who are sick but handle food or water or ice."
According to a notice emailed to parents by Principal Rose Mackenzie, students in four different classes became ill after the trip. One parent whose child became ill said the field trip involved students in Grades 2, 3 and 4.
"Whenever more than 10 per cent of the student population is home due to illness, the Public Health office is contacted," Mackenzie wrote.
Norovirus symptoms include extreme gastrointestinal distress, usually including vomiting and diarrhea. In January, VCH officials restricted access to and from the Hilltop House seniors care facility in Squamish after an outbreak of the virus there. Dr. Paul Martiquet, VCH medical health officer, said there have recently been outbreaks of the virus at facilities in the Vancouver area.
"We've got noro that's been transmitted at times in the community - at facilities and what not - and it could still be out there," Martiquet said on Monday, before the finding of norovirus was confirmed.
Watson said those who work as food handlers and contract a gastrointestinal illness should wait 72 hours after the illness subsides to go back to work. Those who work in care facilities, even those who don't handle food, should wait 48 hours before going back to work after the illness is gone.
For more information about what to do if you or a loved one contracts norovirus, please visit www.healthlinkbc.ca/healthfiles/hfile87.stm.
