A Gastroenteritis Bug, Norovirus Raising Concerns. A Highly Contagious GI Bug

A Gastroenteritis Bug, Norovirus Raising Concerns. A Highly Contagious Bug.

In USA, CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) reports rise in norovirus outbreaks in the North-East parts of the country.

 

Norovirus outbreak is getting on nerves of Americans, if you have stumbled upon international news lately. A common stomach Flu capable of initiating a vicious cycle of vomiting, diarrhoea and nausea. Its contagious nature demands the affected to keep the distance from the healthy to avoid spreading the contagion. 

 

There has been some steady advice from the medical experts.

 

 According to Medical Director of Diagnostic Microbiology at Houston Methodist Hospital, Mr Wesley Long, MD, PhD, "It’s very contagious and easily spread on surfaces and through close person-to-person contact". 

 

Norovirus infects upon swallowing the contagion. It needs fecal-oral transmission route to infect and spread the stomach flu. 

Is Norovirus Treatment Possible? 

This is what Experts are saying about Norovirus Treatment.

 

Norovirus Spread, How the Contagion Transmit itself?

Several ways are possible for the spread of Norovirus. 

• The obvious one would be through care giving the infected patients.
• Eating Food communally with the infected people and sharing their utensils, plates etc. 
• Any foods infected with the contaminants. 
• Through surfaces like public public staircase railings in subways. Also touching light switches, door handles in your workplace can be dangerous. 

Just like Covid-19, this contagion spreads faster in closely knit crowds. So keeping distance with other individuals in public places is always a good precaution to consider. 

Once again, Public places like Schools, libraries and daycare centres are places of concern for the epidemiologists regarding Norovirus Stomach Flu. 

Symptoms of Norovirus

• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Diarrhoea
• Stomach cramps
• Fever and Body Pain.
  

Your gastrointestinal tract is what Norovirus try to reach, once it enters your mouth cavity. All the above dire symptoms are caused due to the inflammation in stomach and intestines. Basically Norovirus Stomach Flu puts your whole digestive system at halt. 

 

Are You at Risk?

The virus has the resilience to survive on metal surfaces like door handles, and glass surfaces as well. This adds longevity to the perilous nature of Norovirus. So this enduring virus may be able to affect everyone. On its own, virus withstand up to two weeks sticking to surfaces. 

Young children and older people will experience severe symptoms, according to medical experts. Diarrhoea and vomiting will strip you off any water and make you dehydrated. If you are chronically ill or have lower immune ability, the risks might be worse for you. 

 

 Norovirus is rapid, highly infective. It only takes 12-48 hours for it to mess up your system. An infected patient may spread the contagion up to two weeks, even after the symptoms are gone. A two week isolation is a good tactic to slow down the spread. Unlike normal flu, it takes a very number of particles to attack your digestive and intestines. 

Reducing the Risk of Norovirus

There are precautionary ways to mitigate the rapid spread of Norovirus and even to avoid being on the receiving end of it. 

Keep the Toilet Lid Down

Norovirus is more affective in April and November. As the contamination season is upon us, Doctors suggest that keeping the lid down is one way to slow down the virus spread. Closing the lid while flushing helps in avoiding the spread of viral particles and contagion as this takes a Fecal-oral route to spread. Next person to go to the restroom will be safe this way. 

Keep the Hard Surfaces Clean

 

Kitchen counters, Electric switch panels, are notoriously catalytic in spreading viruses as they collect virus particles. Using surface cleaning solutions with decent antiseptic killing capabilities. Any disinfecting solutions available in the market are good, just use them regularly for extreme precaution. 

Don't Touch Anything

Nail-biting, Eyes rubbing seems alright but these activities increase the risk of virus transmission towards your mouth. To make things extra careful, wash your hands thoroughly for 20 seconds with warm water and a detergent.

People touch their faces all the time. In fact, according to American journal of Infection Control, it's as much as 23 times an hour.  The elevates the risks of Norovirus Stomach Flu particles ingestion.

Be careful Around Food.

Our food is a prominent source of spreading virus during epidemics. Wash the vegetables, fruits and salad leaves before consuming. Be thorough and be patient while washing, draining and rinsing the fruits and vegetables. Kitchen taps, sink, utensils should be sterilised regularly.

Be Careful around Laundry

When attending and care giving an affected individual, they are likely to experience puking and diarrhoea. Contaminated sheets, clothes, towels and curtains should be immediately washed and dried. They likely contain Norovirus particles which may last up to two weeks. 

Doctors suggest to wear plastic or latex gloves while handling dirty laundry belonging to patients. Also, try to dry them at the highest heat setting available to you in the dryer.  

Wearing a Mask in Public Helps

As the Norovirus travels through mouth cavity and infects your digestive system, all the concerned individuals should consider putting on a mask around their face to avoid catching the viral diseases in the public places. 

Sick individuals in the public may spread through exhaling the viral particles into the air. It's a good practice to even wear gloves while touching anything in subway stations, restaurants, cafes and public libraries or gyms. 

 

 

Currently there is no vaccine for Norovirus. Although it's not lethal for most patients but children and elderly may face severe repercussions. For now medical experts are advising people to keep washing their hands before preparing and eating the food and after using the restroom facilities.