Winter viruses spike in Windsor

by Evan Mathias

Windsor has seen a spike of influenza cases this winter season.

Last year Windsor only had a handful of cases, whereas this winter season the city has 62 reported cases of influenza.

Along with an increase in influenza cases there has also been an outbreak of a new strain of norovirus.

According to Dr. Alenn Heimann, medical officer of health for the City of Windsor/County of Essex, the norovirus is a gastrointestinal virus and there is no anti-viral treatment for it. With no way to kill the virus the best way to stop it is prevention.

“Hand washing is probably the most important prevention method,” said Heimann.

The norovirus is spread easily from person to person from contact spreading.

“It is particularly difficult to control in institutions such as daycares and long term care facilities,” said Heimann. “It’s a virus that is very difficult to clean, it is resistant to many types of cleanser. Generally you’ve got to use a cleanser with bleach in it.”

Some symptoms of the norovirus include sudden stomach cramps and diarrhea.

A couple of Windsor retirement homes have been reported to have a norovirus outbreak. Despite the reports in the Windsor Star, Denise Soucie, interim director of health and wellness at The Grandview Retirement Living denied all claims of an outbreak at that location.

Windsor Regional Hospital has had no cases of the norovirus and few cases of influenza according to vice president of continuing care Sharon Pillon.

Ron Foster the vice president of public affairs and communications at Windsor Regional Hospital said that most of the cases of influenza in Windsor aren’t what you’d expect.

“There has been influenza cases, but it’s mostly been viral, not a regular flu,” said Foster. “We have been lucky this year because many communities in fairly close vicinity (London) had large flu outbreaks.”