Seasonal viruses descend on valley

Thursday, Sept. 3, 1998 | 10:47 a.m.

Las Vegas residents who find themselves feeling queasy these days may have a virus.

Valley health officials said the seasonal bout with intestinal viruses that spreads through homes, offices and schools like wildfire has begun.

"We do have cycles of illness, particularly when you have a lot of children going back to school," said Luana Rich of the Nevada Health Division's epidemeology office in Carson City.

The virus that is the most common cause of these outbreaks is called Norwalk. A trillion of these virus cells can fit on the head of a pin, which is why they spread infection so easily. Such viruses, like the common cold, can jump from person to person by touch, by air or by contacting a contaminated surface.

All it takes to spread diarrhea, cramps and nausea is one ill person snacking from the community candy dish, handling money or touching doorknobs, Rich said. It takes about three weeks for the virus to run its course through those who are susceptible in a common environment such as an office or a classroom.

Viruses that cause intestinal illnesses are alive and well in Las Vegas in part because of its rapid growth and thousands of visitors.

"This type of illness is always active here," said Dr. Rose Bell, an epidemeologist with the Clark County Health District.

"I've had some diarrhea myself the last couple days," said the Health District's Clare Schmutz, environmental health director. "It's more common than you might think."

Clark County School District spokesman Ray Willis said absentee reports have not shown higher-than-normal empty classroom seats in the first week.

"But a lot of parents keep their kids out until after Labor Day, so we won't have good absentee rates listed until the end of September," he said.

An average adult fights off stomach viruses in about three days. However, infants, frail seniors and those with weakened immune systems can become dehydrated.

Twenty to 40 infants die each year in the United States from diarrhea.

Viral diarrhea is so common among infants around world that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved on Monday the first vaccine to prevent the cause of rotavirus in healthy babies.

The vaccine, given orally to babies at ages 2, 4 and 6 months, prevented half of all cases of rotavirus disease. Rotavirus causes vomiting, diarrhea and affects about 80 percent of all youngsters in the United States before age five.

The vaccine RotaShield, made by Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories, is not available in Nevada yet.

Until then, Rich offered some tips to prevent the spread of diarrhea:

* Increase handwashing to at least 15 seconds, soaping between fingers and under the nails. Wash before snacking and after using bathroom facilities.

* Wash coffee mugs and glasses thoroughly at least once a day at home and in the office.

* Switch from using kitchen sink sponges to wipe and clean. Instead use paper towels, which can be thrown away.