Uh... I think there will be no Tri...

It seems that there are now 100+ documented cases of "Norwalk Like" viral infections of people who swam in Blue Lake last week... there could be more.

with no lake there can be no swim with no swim there can be no tri... there is no "official word" yet... but I don't know that I'd WANT to swim in that lake at this point... especially so soon after this "outbreak."

Here's the details:

Virus blamed for Blue Lake illness that sickens over 100
06:21 PM PDT on Monday, July 19, 2004
By JIM PARKER, kgw.com Staff

FAIRVIEW, Ore. -- The Multnomah County Health Department blamed "a type of norovirus" on Monday for an illness outbreak now affecting at least 100 people who recently went swimming at Blue Lake Regional Park.

The beach at Blue Lake remains closed due to a virus in the water that sickened at least 100 swimmers. (KGW Photo)
The 400-foot beach area at the popular summer lake remained closed and health experts urged people to avoid contact with the water there. Blue Lake was first closed on Friday, after a couple-dozen illness cases were initially reported.

Noroviruses are generally spread by contamination of water by feces, health officials said, but they didn't elaborate on specifics involving Blue Lake's contamination.

"We have now documented approximately 100 people with symptoms from Multnomah and Clackamas Counties, but there may be more infected," said Dr. Gary Oxman of the health department.

"An additional concern is how easily this virus can be spread, particularly among household members," he warned. "Even those without symptoms may be infected and can pass the virus to others."

Dr. Oxman said symptoms of the gastro-intestinal illness could include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps, and fever. Frequent handwashing was the best defense to prevent the spread of the virus, he added.

Scientists at the Oregon Public Health Lab said testing of the water at Blue Lake found no evidence of e-coli or other dangerous bacteria. An e-coli outbreak was responsible for sickening about 80 people at the lake in 1991.

The 185-acre Blue Lake Regional Park is visited by about 300,000 people each year, park officials said. It is located between Marine Drive and Sandy Boulevard off NE 223rd Avenue.

There was no word Monday on when the lakefront beach might reopen.

Posted by Lexy at July 19, 2004 10:25 PM