There’s a norovirus outbreak at the Republican Convention | McClatchy Washington Bureau

A dozen California Republican staff members and volunteers staying at the delegation’s hotel an hour outside Cleveland for the national convention have come down with norovirus, the highly contagious bug that inflames the stomach and intestines and causes diarrhea and vomiting.

Cynthia Bryant, executive director of the state GOP, wrote in an email early Tuesday that officials are taking the necessary steps to care for the health of their staff and the more than 550 members of the delegation and their guests.

Party support staff arrived last week ahead of the guests, so there’s concern about the virus spreading quickly in the closed environment. Guests have been instructed to wash their hands well and frequently, avoid shaking hands and not to share food.

At a breakfast for delegates, large dispensers of hand sanitizer stood near the omelet stations.

Bryant told delegates meandering around the Kalahari Resort that if they feel any symptoms they should stay off the buses that shuttle delegates the 60 miles to Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.

“You’ll know if you have it,” Bryant said. “We will work out other means of transportation.”