Image by Elmer L. Geissler from Pixabay
Most people would rather have a mouse ears headband souvenir rather than norovirus at Walt Disney World as a keepsake memory. But some unlucky parkgoers got the latter.
At least that is what they are saying.
There has been no statement from Walt Disney World.
Here’s what we know about the situation and what to do to protect yourself and your family while at the Happiest Place on Earth. As well as what to do if you fall ill with norovirus at Walt Disney World.
Social media outlets, Internet forums, and mouse-centric websites have reported rumors of an outbreak of norovirus at Walt Disney World.
But the park and Florida health departments have been quiet on the matter.
Is there any truth to the outbreak rumor? With the amount of people passing through park gates and the sheer number of touchable surfaces (guardrails, ride handles, stair rails, etc.). Not to mention the specialty foods that draw a crowd. It isn’t surprising that the fecal-borne virus can make its way through the park faster than a duck in a sailor costume.
It may be difficult to determine the source of the uptick in gastrointestinal illnesses.
Was it a sick food service worker?
Was it a park employee?
Did an infected fellow parkgoer carelessly spread their germs with wild abandon like the colors of the wind through the park?
There are only two ways to know for sure.
If a food worker becomes sick with norovirus symptoms, park and local health departments should be notified. In most cases, restaurants receive a health and safety inspection where this information is documented to ensure appropriate mitigating sanitation measures are performed.
Is this handled in-house? Or is the Orlando Health Department involved in this process?
The other way to definitively determine if you were exposed to norovirus from park food is to retain some of the food and have it tested. Though it is unlikely that your whipped pineapple dessert will make it through the day.
Without specific tests to trace the illness, it can be difficult (but not impossible) to determine the source.
If enough people become sick with the same illness that visited the park during the same time, a common denominator can be assessed.
Norovirus is a tiny germ responsible for a big illness. A germ that is easily spread. Which is why it comes up so frequently in foodborne outbreak investigations.
In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that there are around 2,500 reported norovirus outbreaks in the United States each year! This bad bug causes around 58% of the foodborne illnesses acquired in the United States each year!
Norovirus is spread through direct or indirect contact with someone who is already infected with the virus or consuming contaminated food or water. You can also become sick from touching contaminated surfaces and putting your unwashed hands in your mouth or eating.
Norovirus infections are spread through what is known as “fecal-oral route.”
While it sounds as gross as it really is, it only takes a microscopic amount (trace amounts so small they cannot be seen with the naked eye) to spread the illness.
The virus lives and grows in the digestive system of the infected host. It then leaves the host during bowel movements and is found in the feces of the infected person.
Poor hygiene activities after using the restroom are the most common mode of transmission. When an infected person does not wash their hands or ineffectively washes their hands after using the restroom, they can spread the illness.
Helping someone in the restroom or changing the diaper of an infected person without adequate handwashing can also spread the illness.
It doesn’t take much to spread this illness. One inadequate handwash in an infected food service worker can contaminate work surfaces and food, leading to a norovirus outbreak in restaurant patrons and/or other restaurant employees.
The most notable symptoms of norovirus infection are vomiting and diarrhea. It is sometimes referred to as “the stomach bug” or “stomach flu” despite being an entirely unrelated virus from influenza due to some overlapping symptoms.
Common symptoms of norovirus infection include:
There is no cure for norovirus and due to the viral nature, no antibiotic treatment is effective against this type of infection.
If infected, your best bet is to hydrate and rest until symptoms subside. If symptoms become severe or you become dehydrated, seek medical attention right away.
If you have a trip to Disney in your future, consider the following tips to reduce your chances of getting norovirus during your stay.
Frequent hand washing is one of the best ways to protect yourself from norovirus and gastrointestinal illness. Your hands come in contact with so much in your environment. So many surfaces that can be potentially contaminated.
Effective hand washing is key.
Use soap and water and rub soap on your hands for at least 20 seconds. Experts suggest singing the “Happy Birthday” song twice to ensure sufficient hand washing time.
People often touch their faces more than they realize. Touching your eyes, nose, or mouth is a good way to transfer germs from contact surfaces to routes inside your body, leading to illnesses. Both gastrointestinal and others.
Drink plenty of fluids. Keeping hydrated can help reduce your risk of dehydration and subsequent illness.
If you become sick or see someone become sick, report your illness to Disney Guest Services right away.
If you have been impacted by this norovirus outbreak at Walt Disney World and want to file a legal claim, The Lange Law Firm, PLLC has a norovirus lawyer that can help!
Foodborne illness is inconvenient, disruptive to your personal and professional life, and in some cases serious or life-threatening. Most of the time foodborne illness is completely preventable. Lapses in food safety and sanitation result in illness.
Call (833) 330-3663 or send an email for a free, no obligation consultation to go over the details of your situation.
By: Heather Van Tassell (contributing writer, non-lawyer)
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