Outbreak at Eagles Manor

An outbreak of illness has spread through the residents and employees of the Eagles Manor.

The dining room at the retirement center was closed Thursday and will be closed today as well.

“Just because we want to stop this flu and keep it from spreading,” Dee Miller, an administrative assistant at Eagles Manor said.

Miller said Thursday that around 25 people have fallen ill the last couple days and their closing off the dining area is a method to keep others from contracting the sickness.

“We have had so many people get sick so fast we have people just stay in their rooms so they don’t get sick,” Miller said.

Miller said the dining area should be open Saturday morning.

Clay Vincent, the sanitarian and county planner for Hill County, said those affected by the outbreak at Eagles Manor are experiencing symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea.

“It has similar symptoms to norovirus,” Vincent said, though currently there is no proof that is what the sickness is.

“As far as we know right now, there is no testing being done on individuals that are over there,” Vincent said.

Those who happen to catch norovirus will feel the effects of the virus for 24 hours before it has run its course.

Vincent said to avoid further spreading norovirus, if that is what this sickness is, people who have contracted it must not work in the food services for 72 hours after they stop feeling the symptoms of the virus and regularly used surfaces, like doorknobs and handrails, needs to be wiped down.

“People need to wash their hands really well, often,” Vincent said.

Billings, Great Falls and many other cities in Montana and the United States have had large outbreaks of the virus, Vincent said.

“It can really got around and make people sick pretty quick,” Vincent said.

If people have any questions about the norovirus or any other contagious sickness, they can call the Hill County Health Department and they will try to answer any questions.