Recently the nation has experienced a string of norovirus outbreaks. They have been identified in the Boston area, Washington and Virginia and the virus was also blamed for an outbreak of illnesses at an Indianapolis Olive Garden restaurant.
So, what exactly is a norovirus and how worried should you be?
Noroviruses are a group of viruses that cause the “stomach flu,” or gastroenteritis. Norovirus is the official name for 5 viruses that act like the original “Norwalk virus,” which caused an outbreak of gastroenteritis in a school in Norwalk, Ohio, in 1968.
Noroviruses are the cause of “stomach flu” (not the kind of flu caused by the influenza virus), several forms of gastroenteritis, and some cases of food poisoning.
An individual who catches the norovirus will show a sudden onset of nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps and diarrhea. They may also have a low-grade fever (below 102), chills, headache, muscle aches and extreme fatigue. These symptoms usually continue for 1-3 days.
These viruses don’t cause any permanent damage, but the person does need to be very careful to drink enough fluids to prevent dehydration. The big problem is that you feel lousy and it’s highly contagious and spreads quickly. So, the next thing you know everyone around you feels lousy, too. Antibiotics won’t fix it and it’s not covered in your flu vaccine.
Symptoms usually begin to appear between 12 to 48 hours after exposure to the virus. Once you begin to feel ill you will be contagious for at least 3 days after you feel better. In fact, you could still be passing along your illness for up to 2 weeks after being sick. Yuck!
Ok, now that we’re all completely grossed out, what can we do to prevent catching a norovirus?
Take the following steps to help decrease your chances of coming in contact with the infection:
Wash your hands! Scrub with soap for at least 20 seconds after toileting, diaper changes and before preparing food.
Use paper towels rather than cloth- wet hand towels are a welcome sign for germs.
You don’t need to go overboard, using alcohol based sanitizers isn’t necessary.
Carefully wash fruits and vegetables before eating them.
If someone in your home becomes infected:
Offer them small amounts of water-like liquids often.
Thoroughly clean and disinfect affected areas with a bleach-based household cleaner.
Immediately remove and wash clothing and linens that have been in contact with the person.
Aim for the toilet and quickly flush any vomitus and/or stool whenever possible.
Clean the bathroom or diaper changing area frequently and immediately clean any accidents thoroughly.
No spit-swapping activities- kissing, community pacifiers, sharing utensils, etc.
If you are infected, do not prepare food for others until 3 days after you have recovered.
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