More than 50 people became ill over the past few weeks at a Mill Creek retirement community from what health officials suspect is norovirus.
Merrill Gardens at Mill Creek has temporarily closed its dining room and canceled group activities to help stop the spread of illness.
“It appears that Merrill Gardens took very quick action to contain and control this virus for the protection of its residents,” said Dave Peterson, director of communicable disease control for the Snohomish Health District.
The bug is easily spread among people living in close settings. As one example, a person can catch the bug by touching a hand railing used by someone infected by the virus.
Because it can cause severe vomiting, it is sometimes called stomach flu, but it is not caused by an influenza virus.
Symptoms generally last only a day or two. But people can become dehydrated from the bug, particularly the very young and the elderly, according to federal health officials.
Residents first started getting ill on Nov. 25, said Loree Wagner, a spokeswoman for Merrill Gardens, which operates 20 retirement communities. The Mill Creek facility is at 14905 Bothell-Everett Highway.
The illnesses were reported to Snohomish Health District, the countywide public health agency.
The number of people suspected of having the virus appears to be subsiding this week, she said. On Tuesday, no new cases were reported.
The retirement facility took a number of steps to try to slow the spread of the virus among the 235 people who live there, Peterson said.
After closing the dining hall, the facility started serving meals to people in their rooms, he said.
Wagner said that group activities have also been canceled and no gatherings are allowed in common areas. Transportation is still being provided to people with doctor’s appointments, she said.
There is no quarantine at the facility, but a sign has been posted to advise visitors about the illnesses.
“We’re taking all precautions,” Wagner said. “We want to keep residents as safe and healthy as possible. We have a nurse working with the Snohomish Health District.”
Once there have been no new suspected cases for 48 hours, “we can reopen the common areas and start dining room services,” she said. These steps could be taken as soon as Friday.
Reporter Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486 or salyer@ heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
