Visitor restrictions are in place at the city's Copper Ridge Place extended care facility following an outbreak of norovirus.

Bryce Larke, the territory's medical officer of health, said in an interview Wednesday afternoon approximately 30 other people in the facility came down with symptoms of the illness following the first confirmed case last week.

'There is one case of norovirus, the other cases follow a similar pattern,' he told the Star. 'There have been cases of vomiting and diarrhea.

'In order to try to reduce the further spread of that, we decided to really restrict outside visitations.'

The first case at the facility appeared on Feb. 14, and it has continuned to 'smolder' in the community ever since.

Larke said the virus is very rarely serious in nature and fatalities generally occur in the elderly who are already ill before contracting the illness.

'(The) virus would be like the straw that breaks the camel's back.'

Larke said the restrictions at Copper Ridge Place follow a similar incident last week.

'We've had other cases of the illness in the community. There was a day that a day care closed for a day or two last week.'

According to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), noroviruses are a group of gastrointestinal viruses which cause vomiting, diarrhea, nausea and stomach cramps.

'People carry noroviruses, which are found in the stool or vomit of infected individuals, while they are ill and up to at least three or four days after recovery. Some people may be contagious for as long as two weeks after recovery,' states information on PHAC's website.

'The virus is able to survive relatively high levels of chlorine and varying temperatures and can survive on hard surfaces in the environment for up to 12 hours. It has been found to survive on contaminated carpet for up to 12 days.

'In most healthy people, acute diarrhea and vomiting usually last eight to 12 hours, and people normally recover in 48 hours. Symptoms may last longer in some people.'

To reduce the risk of infection, according to PHAC, people should:

wash their hands frequently;

eat food that is well-cooked and still hot when served;

wash fruits and vegetables before eating;

clean contaminated surfaces thoroughly.

Larke said people should do their best to take precautions against the illness although he expects to see more cases in Whitehorse.

'It will likely occur in other areas of the community.'

No special precautions have been recommended in relation to the Canada Winter Games, he added.