Norovirus – the infamous winter vomiting disease is on the rise again in the United States. A highly contagious stomach bug that leads to sudden and violent bouts of diarrhoea and vomiting can make you extremely miserable.
According to experts, the virus cannot be killed by hand sanitizer alone. As the holiday season draws closer, levels of the virus are high in wastewater.
Which states presently have the highest numbers?
Currently, the levels of norovirus are the highest in the Midwest, South, and Northeast. Hotspot states include Alabama, Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Massachusetts, and Michigan.
Earlier this week, authorities in Bedford, Massachusetts, closed an elementary school for two days due to a suspected norovirus outbreak after more than 130 stomach bug-related absences. Similarly, an AIDA cruise ship, currently on a 133-day world tour with stops in the US, England, Mexico, Japan, and South Africa, is also dealing with an ongoing outbreak that has sickened more than 100 passengers and crew members.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, norovirus causes an average of 19 to 21 million illnesses, 109,000 hospitalizations, and 900 deaths.
What are the signs and symptoms of norovirus?
A few signs and symptoms of norovirus include:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Stomach pain
- Severe headache
- High fever
Symptoms usually appear 12 to 48 hours after exposure to the virus and last one to three days. Also, the symptoms of norovirus are usually the same in both children and adults. Adults may experience more diarrhoea than children, and children may vomit more than adults.
What causes norovirus, and how does it spread?
A virus in the Caliciviridae family causes norovirus, which enters your body and makes your stomach and intestines swell or become inflamed. This is a condition called gastroenteritis, which leads to symptoms of norovirus. Doctors say you can get the norovirus infection in many ways, including through:
- Close contact with someone who has the virus.
- Touching contaminated surfaces and then touching your mouth or nose.
- Eating or drinking contaminated foods or beverages.
What are the complications caused by norovirus?
If you contract norovirus, you are bound to feel sick, making you throw up and have diarrhoea. When you are unable to keep nutrients in your body, you are at risk of dehydration. A few symptoms of dehydration include:
- Peeing less often or having dark-coloured pee
- Having a dry mouth
- Feeling weak or dizzy
- A headache
Norovirus can make it difficult for you to eat or drink because the inflammation in your intestines and stomach causes you to vomit. You will also need to make an effort to eat and drink. You can do this by eating and drinking more often throughout the day, eating slowly and taking small bites, or taking little sips of fluids.
How do you reduce the chances of norovirus?
Experts say it is not easy to avoid getting sick, as alcohol-based hand sanitizers are not as effective against the bug. You need to use soap and water to wash your hands, which literally picks up the virus and washes it down the drain. The CDC’s guidance reiterates this, saying, “Hand sanitizer does not work well against norovirus. You can use hand sanitizers in addition to hand washing, but hand sanitizer is not a substitute for hand washing, which is best.”
A few other ways to reduce your chances of getting it are by washing fruits and vegetables. Make sure you thoroughly cook seafood, and if someone in your home has norovirus, clean and disinfect surfaces and wash all laundry in hot water.
