BOH agenda 092017 - Laserfiche WebLink

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On August 31, 2017 the health department received information about multiple cases of gastrointestinal symptoms among sorority members on the UNC campus. Thirty-five students were known ill on 8/31/2017 and 41 were sick by Friday, Sept. 1. Three samples were sent to labs and all came back positive for Norovirus Type 2. The health department in collaboration with Campus Health sent a letter to all students, parents, faculty and staff with information about Norovirus, ways to prevent further spread of the disease, and proper ways to disinfect areas where infected students were housed. Due to the high number of sick students (all associated with the sorority), the health department recommended that the sorority rush that was scheduled for Thursday and Friday nights be canceled given that 800 students were expected to rotate through the 12 sorority houses. The sorority rush was postponed until Sept. 7th. In addition, sick students were confined to an area hotel in Chapel Hill and healthy students were housed in a second hotel while the house was cleaned. While the exact source of the infection was not determined, it appeared that infected students ate at a food bar offered at the sorority house on Tuesday, August 29th. The sous-chef also became ill on August 30th. By the end of the investigation, communicable disease staff were able to interview 20 students, however phone interviews were not effective with this population and the response rate was low. In the future, information may be better obtained from students via electronic surveys. • Walking Challenge Orange County Health Department Staff are attempting to walk the distance of the Appalachian Trail, which is 320 miles, in six weeks. Staff members are putting their feet where their mouth is as they compete in a challenge with the Alamance and Durham County Health Departments. As a way to improve employee health and spread the message about the importance of physical activity staff members have begun tracking their steps every day using a variety of health monitors from Fitbits to pedometers. Their goal is to reach 320 miles in six weeks. The health department with the most miles by the end of the challenge wins a handsome trophy and bragging rights. Alamance, Orange and Durham health departments will gather on Wednesday, October 25th at 3 p.m. at the Whitted Building to announce the winner.