Two nursing care facilities on Maui have reported a large norovirus outbreak over the last couple of weeks.

Dr. Lorrin Pang, the state's Maui district health administrator, said 80 norovirus cases were reported at the Hale Makua facilities in Wailuku and Kahului.

The highly contagious virus causes gastroenteritis, or "stomach flu." Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramps. The symptoms usually last for a couple of days. People can get it through contact with other infected people, ingesting contaminated food or drink, or by touching contaminated items and then their mouths.

Pang said no one has died because of the outbreak and Hale Makua is taking steps to control it, including requiring visitors, as well as staff, to wash their hands.