12 Sickened by Suspected Norovirus at Homeless Shelter

SPOKANE (AP) — Health officials say 12 people at a Spokane homeless shelter have become ill in a suspected norovirus outbreak.

The Spokesman-Review reports people at the House of Charity with nausea, diarrhea and vomited recently went to the hospital.

Officials are waiting for lab results to confirm the latest outbreak is because of norovirus.

In November norovirus made dozens of people ill at the House of Charity and Union Gospel Mission. That prompted a quarantine until work crews could bleach-clean the buildings and supplies. Catholic Charities said the outbreak cost the nonprofit at least $30,000.

Norovirus is often associated with places where people are together in close proximity.

At the shelter, the officials and House of Charity managers are working to identify the source of the virus and disinfect the shelter.

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