Horseshoe Lake County Park to reopen tomorrow Tuesday, August 14 after norovirus outbreak
Kitsap County Washington sent this bulletin at 08/13/2018 12:43 PM PDT
August 13, 2018
KITSAP COUNTY, WA
Horseshoe Lake County Park to reopen tomorrow Tuesday, August 14 after norovirus outbreak
The last reported Illness onset date was August 3.
In coordination with Kitsap County Parks Department, the Kitsap Public Health
District is removing its closure order for the Horseshoe Lake County Park
swimming beach. Horseshoe Lake County Park will reopen on Tuesday, August 14,
2018.
The park was closed on August 1 after
the Kitsap Public Health District received reports of people
experiencing gastrointestinal illnesses after visiting the park in late
July. The closure included the Park and its swimming beach only; there
was no indication that any other parts of the lake were affected or needed to
be closed.
INVESTIGATION SUMMARY
Kitsap
Public Health District investigated 155 reported illnesses.
There
was one lab confirmation of a norovirus infection in an individual who
became sick after swimming at Horseshoe Lake County Park swimming
beach in late July.
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 who had visited the swimming beach during the time period around July 29th.
IMPORTANT! Any time people are sick with
diarrhea, vomiting, and/or stomach cramps they should stay home from all
activities, frequently wash their hands with soap and water, and not prepare
food for others for at least 48 hours after they recover from their
illness.
DON'T LET SWIMMING MAKE YOU SICK
Don't drink the lake water.
Stay out of discolored or slimy water.
Avoid swimmer's itch (duck mites) by showering or vigorously towel drying after swimming.
Keep children who are not toilet-trained out of the water, or use swim diapers.
