8/8 UPDATE on Horseshoe Lake County Park swimming beach closure & investigation
Kitsap County Washington sent this bulletin at 08/08/2018 04:24 PM PDT
August 8, 2018
KITSAP COUNTY, WA
Horseshoe Lake County Park swimming beach closure and illness investigation update
Kitsap
Public Health District has lab confirmation of norovirus infection
The Kitsap Public Health District is
investigating reports of people experiencing gastrointestinal illnesses
after visiting Horseshoe Lake County Park between July 28 - August 1.
The Horseshoe Lake County Park swimming beach
remains closed until further notice as a precautionary measure to protect
the public and prevent any additional illnesses. This closure includes
Horseshoe Lake County Park swimming beach only. There has been no
indication that any other parts of the lake need to be closed.
Kitsap Public Health will reevaluate
the status of Horseshoe Lake County Park with Kitsap County Parks &
Recreation on Monday, August 13, and will provide an update at that time.
INVESTIGATION UPDATE (as of 3 p.m. 8/8/18)
Kitsap
Public Health has investigated 148 reported illnesses.
There
is now lab confirmation of a norovirus infection in an individual who
became sick after swimming at Horseshoe Lake County Park
swimming beach in late July. This is consistent with our suspicion
that the illnesses are associated with norovirus.
The
majority of those reporting illnesses visited the park on Sunday, July 29.
Based
on the onset of symptoms and incubation period, it is believed that a
number of those reporting illness are considered “secondary cases” –
people who got sick after exposure to another ill person.
REPORT ILLNESSES
Please contact Kitsap Public Health online or at (360) 728-2205 to report your illness if:
You or your family visited Horseshoe Lake County Park since Saturday, July 28, and became ill with diarrhea, vomiting, and/or stomach cramps.
You or your family members had contact with an ill visitor to the park since Saturday, July 28, and then became ill with diarrhea, vomiting, and/or stomach cramps.
IMPORTANT! People who are sick with diarrhea, vomiting, and/or stomach cramps should stay home from all activities and not prepare food for others for at least 48 hours after they recover from their illness.
IMPORTANT REMINDERS
It
is important that people understand that norovirus is highly
contagious. People
can become ill due to exposure to the virus while caring for someone
who is ill. Individuals with norovirus are infectious for at
least 48 hours after their symptoms resolve. People can also spread
the virus by returning to work, school, or daycare and by visiting
recreational facilities or other public places while they are still sick
or for 48 hours after symptoms resolve.
People
who are sick with diarrhea, vomiting, and/or stomach cramps should stay
home from all activities and not prepare food for others for at least
48 hours after they recover from their illness.
Frequently
washing your hands with soap and water and cleaning surfaces in the
home where someone is sick with norovirus-like illness is
extremely important. A bleach
solution of 1 cup of bleach to 1 gallon of water is recommended to kill
norovirus on surfaces. This is a much higher concentration than normally
recommended for sanitizing.
In
most instances norovirus symptoms will improve one to two days after onset. It is important to stay hydrated. If symptoms appear
severe or do not improve within 24 hours, a healthcare provider should be
consulted.