Norovirus spreading across West Mich.

WEST MICHIGAN (NEWSCHANNEL 3) – Health officials are warning people about an increase in vomiting and diarrhea illness.

The latest report comes from Barry County and follows similar alerts in Muskegon County and central Michigan.

The reports are primarily from schools and day care facilities. They say that the illness comes on quickly in otherwise healthy people and subsides without treatment.

Officials say that the illness is consistent with norovirus infection. It is easily spread between people and can be transmitted by eating food prepared by someone who is ill. It can also be spread by person to person contact or by touching contaminated common surfaces.

The Barry County Health Department offers the following advice:

· Use chlorine bleach-based cleaners to disinfect surfaces contaminated with vomit or diarrhea. Contaminated carpet or upholstered furniture needs steam cleaning.

· In case of vomit, clean within a 25 foot radius as vomiting may spread the virus through the air to surfaces where it can survive for at least 3 weeks

· Do not prepare food for others for 72 hours after symptoms end

· Do not return to school or work until symptoms have stopped and preferably 48 hours after the last episode of vomiting or loose stools.

For more information on norovirus, click here.