Posters explain how to prevent norovirus

To educate the U.S. public about ways to prevent norovirus, the Water Quality and Health Council says it created posters to put on display in public areas. Linda Golodner, vice chairwoman of the Water Quality and Health Council, said the two posters feature clear, plain-language directions to help the public prevent the spread of norovirus in their communities. One poster provides step-by-step instructions for routine disinfection of surfaces. The other provides directions to properly clean and disinfect surfaces following a vomiting or diarrhea incident. The posters were prepared by WQHC, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, the National Environmental Health Association, the New Jersey Somerset County Health Department and the American Chemistry Council. The posters emphasize the use of a chlorine bleach solution to properly disinfect surfaces. "There are simple steps we all can take to help prevent the transmission of this nasty virus," Golodner said in a statement. "We developed these posters with a team of partners to make the public more aware of this significant health threat and better enable them to fight it." Golodner said norovirus is the top cause of acute gastroenteritis -- severe vomiting and diarrhea -- in the United States. The posters are being made available to nursing homes, schools, day-care centers, workplaces and other locations where norovirus can quickly spread. Copies of the posters are available at disinfect-for-health.org/resources. They are available free in English or Spanish, color or black-and-white, large at 11 inches x 17 inches or small at 8.5 inches x 11 inches.