[media-credit name=’JEFF SCHORFHEIDE/Herald photo’ align=’alignright’ width=’336′][/media-credit]Since mid-December, the Madison Health Department has been on high alert after several outbreaks of the norovirus in Dane County caused more than 150 people to fall ill.

Outbreaks of the virus were reported at the Veterans Hospital, Monona Terrace, the Willows Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and the Edgewater Hotel.

Norovirus is a gastrointestinal illness that causes vomiting, nausea, abdominal cramps and diarrhea.

Though there have not been any outbreaks since Jan. 2, sanitation and caution when handling food are still crucial for transmitting the disease, according to Amanda Kita-Yarbro, communicable disease epidemiologist with the Health Department.

“We see norovirus every year, but we’ve never had this number of site-specific outbreaks,” Kita-Yarbro said. “And we’ve never had six of those reported at one time — it’s happening all over the state, and it seems to be a worse year … than last year.”

Kita-Yarbro said it is often difficult to say exactly how many people have been affected by the virus, since it is not often reported by patients. Many doctors do not actually test for the norovirus even when patients do report symptoms.

And unlike outbreaks like mumps, hospitals are not required to report norovirus cases to the Madison-Dane County Health Department.

“Just getting the prevention message out there is really important,” she added. “It’s transmitted from person to person — if people are sick and don’t wash their hands well when they use the bathroom, touch other surfaces or make food.”

The outbreak closest to the University of Wisconsin occurred at the Edgewater Hotel, located at 666 Wisconsin Ave.

Judy Alberts, managing director at the Edgewater, said the norovirus was not spread by an employee, but was brought in by a guest. People attending a function with the infected guest caused the outbreak in the hotel, she added.

“We bleached the hotel from floor to ceiling, and everyone is now wearing gloves,” Alberts said. “We’ve done everything the Health Department requested us to do.”

By taking extra precautions, Kita-Yarbro said further outbreaks could be prevented. There is no cure for the norovirus except waiting the disease out, though she added going to see a doctor would not hurt.

According to Kita-Yarbro, some patients experience just one or two of the indication signs of norovirus, while some may exhibit the entire range of symptoms. The only reason an infected person would need serious medical attention would be in the case of dehydration, she added, a common effect of serious nausea and vomiting.

“If you are sick, stay home and don’t make food for others,” Kita-Yarbro said. “Don’t go to class — just stay away from other people.”