As the Los Angeles fires continue to wreak havoc across Southern California, an evacuation shelter has been hit by a norovirus outbreak.
The Pasadena Public Health Department confirmed Friday that three people tested positive for norovirus among a group of 28 people suffering from “acute gastrointestinal illness” at the Pasadena evacuation shelter.
The department told CNN it was providing guidance and support to the American Red Cross, which operates the shelter, and said it was doing everything it could to keep residents safe.
“The health and well-being of the residents in our care is a top priority,” said Stephanie Fox, media relations manager at American Red Cross national headquarters.
Fox said health care workers are available to provide on-site care to anyone who feels ill. It was confirmed that a dispensary has been set up at the evacuation center and that AltaMed Health Services is also providing medical care there.
“The spread of disease in congregate living settings, including shelters, is unfortunately common given the close quarters of common areas and spaces,” the Pasadena Public Health Department said. “This year, the community has experienced higher than normal levels of norovirus.”
Data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows norovirus outbreaks are worse than they have been in more than a decade.
Nearly 500 outbreaks were reported between August and mid-December, according to CDC data, a third more than the same period last season.
The Pasadena Public Health Department confirmed Friday that three people tested positive for norovirus among a group of 28 people suffering from “acute gastrointestinal illness” at the Pasadena evacuation shelter.
Data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows norovirus outbreaks are worse than they have been in more than a decade. Nearly 500 outbreaks were reported between August and mid-December, according to CDC data, a third more than the same period last season.
“The (health department) team will continue to meet with health service partners on site and monitor the situation to prevent further spread,” the health department said.
The Red Cross said that when a Pasadena shelter resident becomes ill, they will be isolated in an area away from healthy residents.
“At this time, our partners at the Los Angeles County Department of Health and Kaiser Permanente are providing 24-hour medical care to affected residents in our shelters, and those with symptoms are resting in another part of the establishment, away from the general population. As a result of these efforts, the spread of the disease has been minimal,” Fox told CNN.
The shelter also reportedly took safety precautions, including making hand sanitizer available. Volunteers handling food must also wear gloves and cleaning supplies are also available to staff.
Pasadena Public Health said additional measures include hand-washing stations, frequent cleaning of restrooms and the use of disinfectants.
“The (health department) team will continue to meet with health service partners on site and monitor the situation to prevent further spread,” the department said.
The outbreak comes as experts have warned that Los Angeles could be hit by dangerous landslides as rains return to the burned area.
“After compiling year-long amounts of soil and sediment erosion that occurred after major California wildfires between 1984 and 2021, scientists found that post-fire erosion accelerated over time , particularly in Northern California, likely reflecting both the increase in wildfires in the state and the frequency of wet years,” the study said.
Extreme fires can also destabilize pre-existing deep landslides over long periods of time.
Hawaii health officials added that pregnant, elderly, young or medically compromised people should not enter contaminated areas.
“The Palisades will be an area where people will need to watch out for landslides because the valley walls are steep. Homes that survived the wildfire in the Palisades could also be in great danger if heavy rains undermine foundations,” Costas Synolakis said.
According to Costas Synolakis, a professor of civil engineering at USC, the risk of landslides will be higher in Pacific Palisades because there is no debris basin in the area.
“The Palisades will be an area where people will need to watch out for landslides because the valley walls are steep.
“Homes that survived the wildfire in the Palisades could also be in great danger if heavy rains undermine their foundations.”
“Houses near streams and steep hills could also contribute a lot of debris to landslides,” he told ABC.
Debris from potential landslides could also cause serious environmental damage.
In the short term, sinking debris can choke rivers and streams and deprive fish of oxygen.
Sediment runoff can also fill reservoirs and occupy water storage space, which could in turn damage flood control infrastructure and threaten nearby communities vulnerable to flash flooding.
In addition to the risk of landslides, Los Angeles residents should also exercise caution when returning to smoldering sites destroyed by wildfires due to long-term health and respiratory concerns.
Residents in fire-ravaged communities have been warned that the risk of landslides is increased and they should be on the lookout for any warning signs.
Diana Felton, 47, communicable disease manager at the Hawaii State Department of Health, warned curious California homeowners to wear appropriate protective gear if they return to the burned remains.
Some 6.5 million people remain under critical fire threat after fires ravaged an area almost as large as Washington, D.C., authorities said.
Los Angeles public health experts have advised people in greater Los Angeles to leave neighborhoods covered in “cancer-causing chemicals.”
These dangerous chemicals result from the burning of vehicles, solar panels, batteries, building materials and everyday household products.
Yet even as authorities issued stern warnings, residents continued to return to the ruins, with some posting videos on social media showing them walking through the ruins without any protective equipment.
Dangerous contaminants can be easily kicked up when people attempt to salvage their belongings, rummaging through potentially toxic rubble.
Exposure does not usually trigger immediate symptoms, but it can lead to long-term health problems such as cancer, high blood pressure, liver problems or learning disabilities.
Simply breathing ash and smoke from a wildfire can trigger problems such as coughing, irregular heartbeat and fatigue, the health official added.
Felton, head of the Hawaii State Department of Health’s Communicable Disease Division, said the group of distressed homeowners returning to the rubble is similar to what she saw after the 2023 Lahaina fire .
Exposure does not usually trigger immediate symptoms, but it can lead to long-term health problems such as cancer, high blood pressure, liver problems or learning disabilities.
Dangerous contaminants can be easily kicked up when people attempt to salvage their belongings, rummaging through potentially toxic rubble.
Homes damaged by the Palisades fire are visible along Malibu Beach
Six fires have broken out in the greater Los Angeles area since last Tuesday, killing at least 27 people and burning more than 12,000 homes and other structures.
Firefighters are still battling the Palisades Fire, which is the most destructive fire in Los Angeles history, as well as the Eaton and Hurst fires.
The other three fires are now fully contained.
The National Weather Service added that the respite for fire-ravaged Los Angeles will be short-lived, with a high chance of new red flag warnings – when ideal conditions of fire, high winds and low humidity dominate – start again on Sunday.
Some 6.5 million people remain under critical fire threat after fires ravaged an area almost as large as Washington, D.C., authorities said.
