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Highly contagious stomach virus outbreak reported at Clermont assisted living facility

CLERMONT, Fla. — The Florida Department of Health is investigating nearly a dozen residents of a Clermont assisted living facility after an outbreak of a highly contagious stomach virus.
 
Management at the Benton House near State Road 50 called the DOH and explained the situation, then separated the sick residents from the healthy ones.
 
"Solitary confinement, that's what it's like," resident Al Frick said.
 
"We were just told now that we could come out and walk around, but not wander through the building," resident Richard Amadio said.
 
The outbreak of the gastrointestinal virus affected nearly a dozen residents, two of whom were taken to the hospital suffering from dehydration.
 
"It could be transmitted (by) direct contact, through person to person (and) even through nasal secretions," Bill Toth of the DOH said.
 
Officials said the virus is no more dangerous than any other stomach virus, but can last a few days longer and can't be stopped by a flu shot.
 
"I am concerned because my wife has a kidney issue and she takes immune suppressant drugs, so any virus could really hurt her," Lake County resident Augie Buffa said.
 
Officials believe that the virus has been contained, but still urge everyone to wash their hands.
 
"Well, I just hope it doesn't come back again because we just had to get out and take a walk because it's like being in jail," Amadio said.
 
Officials said no employees contracted the virus.