Salem Mission ravaged by norovirus

By Tom Dalton
Staff writer

May 13, 2008 05:45 am

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SALEM — Residents and staff at the Salem Mission who became seriously ill last week most likely caught a highly contagious virus, a local health official said.

"We're deducing that it's probably a norovirus," Health Agent Joanne Scott said.

Noroviruses commonly strike large groups of people in congested areas, like convention centers or cruise ships, and last from 24 to 48 hours. Scott said her staff reached this conclusion based on interviews with the sick individuals and test results from North Shore Medical Center, which indicated that whatever made people sick was not a food-borne illness.

"It doesn't appear people ate the same food," she said.

The Salem Mission, the city's 34-bed homeless shelter on Margin Street, is still closed to the public and is likely to remain closed for a day or two more. Residents and staff can come and go, but visitors are not allowed in the building. The shelter usually serves lunch to 80 guests daily and dinner to 100.

"It can reopen to serve meals to the public after there are no more residents or employees with symptoms," Scott said.

About 20 people experienced vomiting and diarrhea on Thursday and Friday, a shelter official said.

"Everybody is reporting that they are feeling much better," Scott said.

The Health Department has ordered a thorough cleaning of the building. Noroviruses can live for a week or longer on doorknobs, toilets and other surfaces.

In addition to steps already taken, such as sanitizing surfaces with bleach and water and replacing linens and bedding, the Health Department has instituted new cleaning procedures and directed anyone entering or leaving the building to use a hand sanitizer.

"They're following any and all recommendations we've given them," Scott said. "They've really worked hard, and it looks excellent."

Anyone who ate at the shelter over the past week and has had similar symptoms should contact a doctor or go to the emergency room at Salem Hospital, the health agent said.

Scott said no outbreak of the suspected virus has been reported outside of the Salem Mission.