Norovirus sickens 59 at assisted-living facility

LYNBROOK, NY — An outbreak of norovirus, a highly contagious gastrointestinal infection whose eradication requires extensive cleaning of surfaces, sickened 59 individuals at the Atria Tanglewood assisted-living facility, according to WCBS-TV.


Due to the nature of the virus to easily spread, the facility imposed a three-week quarantine on itself to ensure its containment, the story stated.


It is not uncommon for such illnesses as norovirus to sicken people living in close proximity, especially those susceptible to illness like the elderly, the story noted.


Noroviruses are also sometimes known as "winter vomiting viruses" or "Norwalk-like viruses," and symptoms include nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, the story added.