Nasty Virus Hits Senior Living Center

The Norovirus is believed responsible for several outbreaks in San Diego

Dozens of residents at the Sabre Springs Belmont Village senior living community are overcoming a rough bout of the stomach flu that closed down the dining room and cancelled activities until further notice.

"Mine was a couple days and it leaves you kind of knocked out, but you finally get your health together and it's running OK,” said resident Margaret Harold.

Officials have not confirmed that any of the illnesses at Belmont Village were, in fact, Norovirus, but it would appear that the symptoms are consistent with those reported by people suffering from the nasty illness, which is usually associated with cruise ships where the close quarters help with its rapid spread. Norovirus is believed responsible for several outbreaks in San Diego.

Last week about 200 students at Point Loma Nazarene University were sick.

Roughly 15 percent of the 170 senior citizens live at Belmont Village in Sabre Springs were sick according to Executive Director Heidi Charette, who said they are working with the Department of Social Services and CDC to reduce exposure to healthy residents.

Activities like happy hour, entertainment gatherings, and day outings were cancelled and the dining room closed as a precaution.  Residents are instead being served meals in their individual rooms.

"It limits their activities obviously.  They can't get out and socialize and there is no one in the halls and no one out and about," said Melissa Swan Bloom, who was visiting her elderly father.  "It really impacted them quite a bit, it's distressing, distressing to my dad."

Belmont Village says no new cases have been reported in the past 48 hours.

Contact Us