How To Avoid—and Prevent—the Norovirus That’s on the Rise in the US

Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that causes vomiting, diarrhea, and acute gastroenteritis, an inflammation of the stomach or intestines. Despite being nicknamed the “stomach flu” or “stomach bug,” it is unrelated to the flu which is caused by the influenza virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This electron microscope image provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows a cluster of norovirus virions. Washing your hands for 20 seconds prevents contacting the Norovirus. This electron microscope image provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows a cluster of norovirus virions. Washing your hands for 20 seconds prevents contacting the Norovirus. AP Photo CDC Reports Norovirus Cases on the Rise The CDC reported 91 norovirus outbreaks during the week of December 5. An outbreak is defined as two or more similar illnesses linked to a common exposure, either suspected or confirmed to be caused by norovirus. This is up from 69 outbreaks in the last week of November and is also significantly higher than the average of 65 outbreaks reported during the same week in December over the past 12 years. William Schaffner, a professor of preventive medicine and infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, told Newsweek: “While there some winters that have more Noro than less, we don’t completely understand, but it looks as though we’re headed for a very substantial Norovirus season.” What are the Symptoms of Norovirus? A person typically develops symptoms of norovirus 12 to 48 hours after exposure. These symptoms can range from mild to severe, affecting people differently. The most common symptoms of norovirus include diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and stomach pain. In addition to these, some people may also experience other symptoms such as fever, headache, and body aches. Schaffner said: “Norovirus is characterized by severe vomiting. The first symptom of many patients is sudden, unexpected, explosive vomiting, and then that vomiting continues. It can be accompanied by diarrhea, and dehydration is a concern, particularly for the very young and for older people who are frail and who have chronic underlying illnesses, such as diabetes.” How To Prevent Norovirus? One of the most important steps to prevent the spread of Norovirus is to wash your hands thoroughly and frequently, especially after using the restroom and before handling food. Washing hands for at least 20 seconds is recommended. When it comes to food safety, ensure that shellfish is cooked thoroughly and that fruits and vegetables are washed before consumption. These precautions can reduce the risk of ingesting contaminated food. If surfaces become contaminated, cleaning and disinfecting them properly is crucial. Use a bleach-based cleaner or an appropriate disinfectant to eliminate the virus from surfaces. Similarly, wash any soiled laundry in hot water to remove potential contamination. How Long Does Norovirus Last? “Norovirus is a disease that makes you miserable for two or three days, and then virtually, everyone gets better again,” Schaffner told Newsweek. “Treatment is symptomatic—rehydration, making sure people get fluids. Hospitalizations usually occur among the very young and older, frail, immunocompromised people, where dehydration may be more hazardous and people have to get IV fluids in order to restore their fluid balance. Fortunately, deaths due to Noro are very, very rare.” Still, the CDC says people can still spread the virus for several days after they are infected. If you become sick, stay home for at least 48 hours after your symptoms have stopped. “We don’t have a vaccine available yet. There is one in the research pipeline that’s being worked on, but we don’t have a licensed vaccine. What we do have is attention to hand hygiene,” Schaffner said. “It turns out that the hand hygiene sanitizer wipes and lotions that we use so often don’t work optimally against Noro, but fortunately, soap and water do, so when it comes to neuro prevention, when we talk about hand hygiene, we put special attention to sinks, soap, and water.” Do you have a story Newsweek should be covering? Do you have any questions about this story? Contact LiveNews@newsweek.com