Doors closed to new admissions after Norwalk illness strikes patients, staff

An outbreak of viral gastroenteritis has sickened more than 160 people at two Medford nursing homes.

Waterford at Three Fountains and Medford Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center have closed their doors to new admissions until all patients are free of symptoms for at least 48 hours.

Laboratory analysis has confirmed the presence of Norwalk virus at Waterford, where the illness first surfaced last week. Eighty-nine patients and 69 staff members have been ill, said Cheryl Atterberry, Waterford’s director of nursing.

Norwalk made news recently when hundreds of people on cruise ships came down with the virus. It causes violent vomiting and diarrhea, not unlike an extreme case of food poisoning. Symptoms typically cease within 48 hours, but the disease is highly contagious and the virus can live for days on surfaces that have not been disinfected.

"I can’t think of a worse place (than a nursing home) for Norwalk to get started," said Hank Collins, Jackson County’s director of health and human services.

Waterford has 134 beds and about 250 staff. Atterberry said there were 122 patients there when the illness surfaced.

The exact source of the gastrointestinal illness at Medford Rehabilitation had not been determined Wednesday. Laboratory tests take several days to confirm the source of an illness, and Medford Rehabilitation’s first case surfaced on Tuesday.

"We don’t know what we’re dealing with here," said Grant Gloor, administrator at Medford Rehabilitation. Gloor declined to say how many people have become ill at Medford Rehabilitation, which has 103 patients and 110 beds.

Atterberry said Waterford contacted Jackson County public health officials as soon as the illness surfaced. To halt its spread, staff donned surgical masks, gloves and gowns, and visitors were offered masks. Housekeepers have been disinfecting door knobs and bed rails. Residents stayed in their rooms to limit contact with others who might be infected.

Gloor said staff at Medford Rehabilitation were also wearing protective clothing.

Atterberry said there had been no new cases during the past two days, and she was hopeful the outbreak had run its course at Waterford.

Norwalk and other viruses that cause gastroenteritis are present in the environment at all times, but outbreaks tend to spread more rapidly in closed environments such as nursing homes. Symptoms usually appear 48 to 72 hours after exposure. Vomiting is usually a prominent symptom. Diarrhea tends to be watery and less severe than gastroenteritis caused by bacteria. Affected people may also have headaches, low-grade fever, chills and abdominal cramps or stomach ache.

The virus is highly contagious because people who vomit spread the virus into the air, Atterberry said. "You can be in the same room with someone who vomited and get it."

Reach reporter Bill Kettler at 776-4492, or e-mail bkettler@mailtribune.com