A new investigation published in Clinical infectious Diseases reports on the 2010 outbreak of norovirus in several NBA teams. The study underlines the unique circumstances that spread the extremely contagious virus among NBA players and staff on and off the court. The 2010 outbreak is the first known report of a norovirus outbreak in a professional sports association.
In the U.S., norovirus (formerly Norwalk agent) is the most prevalent cause of gastroenteritis outbreaks. The virus is responsible for approximately 21 million cases of illness each year in the country. Together with colleagues from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, Rishi Desai, MD, MPH, author of the study, discovered that across 11 different states as many as 13 NBA teams were affected by the norovirus outbreak between November and December 2010.
Dr. Desai explained:
“We confirmed that norovirus spread within at least one team and possibly from one team to another. Overall, 21 players and three staff from 13 teams were affected.”
According to the authors, players have an increased chance of catching the infection due to rigorous sports schedules as well as the close interactions between athletes and staff. Athletes and staff spend long periods of time together in confined spaces, such as locker rooms, on the court, in buses and on airplanes. These spaces are ideal conditions for the virus to spread easily and quickly through the air, on objects, and surfaces where the pathogen can remain infectious for several days or even weeks.
Individuals infected by norovirus shed billions of virus particles, making it extremely contagious. As the virus is resistant to common disinfectants, even the best cleaning and hygiene may not eliminate it. Symptoms of the virus include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps, headaches and aching limbs.
The study recommends that the transmission of the virus among teams and staff can be reduced by keeping ill athletes off the court during practice and games and by avoiding contact with those affected when they are ill and up to 24 hours after recovery. According to the authors, strict personal hygiene, such as washing hands with soap and water, early reporting, and disinfecting common spaces with a sodium hypochlorite solution are vital for limiting transmission of the virus.
The benefits of preventing the virus are clear – healthier teams with fewer ill athletes on the disabled list.
Written by: Grace Rattue