Outbreak of Norovirus Illness Among Wildfire Evacuation Shelter Populations - Butte and Glenn Counties, California, November 2018

Abstract

What is already known about this topic? Norovirus infection, the leading cause of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in the United States, is highly contagious and resistant to several disinfectants. Outbreaks are common in disaster evacuation shelters, given frequent close personal contact and challenges with infection prevention and control (IPC). What is added by this report? In California, during November 8-30, 2018, a total of 292 patients with AGE were identified among approximately 1,100 evacuees in Camp Fire evacuation shelters; 16 of 17 patient specimens were positive for norovirus genotype GII.4 Sydney [P16]. Shelter assessment revealed deficiencies in illness surveillance and IPC, which prompted public health intervention. What are the implications for public health practice? During a large-scale natural disaster, in a setting where immediate access to public health resources is limited, prioritizing effective illness surveillance and IPC at shelter initiation could improve AGE outbreak identification and control.