Norovirus

Norovirus – Winter Vomiting Bug/Food Poisoning/Stomach Flu

Norovirus at times known as winter vomiting bug, is a common stomach bug in the UK. Noroviruses are group of viruses which cause inflammation of the stomach and the large intestine lining and are the main cause of gastroenteritis. The viruses are very contagious and can affect people of any age causing diarrhoea and vomiting. Originally, norovirus was known as the Norwalk virus after the town of Norwalk, Ohio which was the first confirmed outbreak location in the year 1972.

The noroviruses are also called food poisoning sometimes due to being transmitted through food which tends to get contaminated with the virus. Though they are not always the cause of food contamination, Noroviruses are also called stomach flu but they are not the influenza virus. There does not seem to be any specific cure for norovirus and it usually tends to be mild and does not last more than a couple of days.

The period from the time of infection to when the symptoms show up being the incubation period tends to last between 12 to 48 hours and the person could be infectious to others during this period. Norovirus is not usually dangerous and mostly people make a full recovery within a few days without the need of visiting their physician.

Causes & Symptoms

Individuals tend to get infected when they consume food or drink that has been contaminated, raw or undercooked oysters and raw vegetables and fruits which have been implicated during outbreaks. One could also get infected if one touch an object or a surface which has been infected with the virus and the same is touched to one’s nose, mouth or eyes.

When a person get infected from contaminated food, the virus can be passed from person to person by sharing food or vessels, by shaking of the hands through a handshake or through other close contact and those with a weak immune system are more vulnerable in catching noroviruses.

The person suffering from norovirus can undergo a drastic change from being completely healthy to feeling absolutely miserable within a day or two after being infected.The symptoms include vomiting – often among children, nausea, watery diarrhoea – often in adults and stomach cramps.

Prevention & Treatment

Noroviruses unlike other viruses does not respond to antibiotics that are meant to kill bacteria and no antiviral medicine can treat noroviruses. In healthy persons, the ailment passes off on within a few days and most of them do not have any long term problem from the virus.

To prevent the infection of norovirus, one needs to maintain good hygiene especially in the case of being surrounded with many people during an outbreak. Hands need to be washed often with soap for at least 15 seconds or a alcohol-based hand sanitizer particularly after visiting the bathroom or changing a child’s diaper and prior to the preparation or consumption of a meal.

Contaminated items should be carefully disposed, raw fruits and vegetables should be washed thoroughly, disinfect and clean surface with mixture of detergent and chlorine bleach after a person is sick, oyster and other shellfish should be well cooked etc.

A person suffering from norovirus should avoid cooking food for at least a couple of days or till they feel much better and consumption of food prepared from a person suffering from norovirus should be avoided.