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Norovirus
Have You Suffered a Norovirus?
A Norovirus is a group of viruses that cause the stomach flu, or gastroenteritis in people. The term norovirus was recently approved as the official name for this group of viruses. Several other names have been used for noroviruses, including: Norwalk-like viruses (NLVs), Caliciviruses (because they belong to the virus family Caliciviridae), and small round structured viruses. Noroviruses are not affected by treatment with antibiotics, and cannot grow outside of a person’s body.Causes
Noroviruses are found in the stool or vomit of infected people. People can become infected with the virus in several ways, including:
- Eating food or drinking liquids that are contaminated with norovirus
- Touching surfaces or objects contaminated with norovirus, and then placing their hand in their mouth
- Having direct contact with another person who is infected and showing symptoms (for example, when caring for someone with illness, or sharing foods or eating utensils with someone who is ill).
Symptoms
People may feel very sick and vomit many times a day, but most people get better within 1 or 2 days, and they have no long-term health effects related to the illness. However, sometimes people are unable to drink enough liquids to replenish the liquids they lost because of vomiting and diarrhea. These individuals can become dehydrated and may need special medical attention. This problem with dehydration is usually only seen among the very young, the elderly, and persons with weakened immune systems. Noroviruses are very contagious and can spread easily from person to person. Both stool and vomit are infectious. Particular care should be taken with young children in diapers who may have diarrhea.
Prevention
- To decrease your chance of coming in contact with noroviruses by following these preventive steps:
- Frequently wash your hands, especially after toilet visits and changing diapers and before eating or preparing food.
- Carefully wash fruits and vegetables, and steam oysters before eating them.
- Thoroughly clean and disinfect contaminated surfaces immediately after an episode of illness by using a bleach-based household cleaner.
- Immediately remove and wash clothing or linens that may be contaminated with virus after an episode of illness (use hot water and soap).
- Flush or discard any vomitus and/or stool in the toilet and make sure that the surrounding area is kept clean.
NorovirusRSS Feed
Chipotle Mexican Grill Offers to Foot the Bill for Ohio Food Poisoning Victims
Apr 30, 2008 | Parker Waichman Alonso LLP
Early last week, over 400 people reported being stricken with food poisoning after eating at the Chipotle Mexican Grill in Kent, Colorado. The Chipotle restaurant chain's Denver corporate office has agreed to pay treatment costs for those who fell ill after eating at Chipotle recently. The last official tally released by local health officials April 21 reported 428 total cases. Chipotle officials say the suspected norovirus incident was contained to the Kent restaurant.Food...
Starting Point for Chipotle Grill Norovirus a Mystery
Apr 29, 2008 | Parker Waichman Alonso LLP
Early last week, over 450 people reported they were stricken with food poisoning after eating at the Chipotle Mexican Grill in Kent, Ohio. That city's health department sent food and biological samples from sick customers to the Ohio Department of Health in Columbus. Food tests from the Chipotle Mexican Grill did not confirm the virus’ origin; however, investigators confirmed they collected sufficient information to state that norovirus is to blame. Last week, city...
Chipotle Mexican Grill Linked to Ohio Outbreak, Possibly Norovirus
Apr 23, 2008 | Parker Waichman Alonso LLP
As of late Monday, over 432 people reported they were stricken with food poisoning after eating at the Chipotle Mexican Grill in the City of Kent, across from the Kent State University campus in Ohio. Also, on Monday, that city's health department sent food and biological samples from the sick customers to the Ohio Department of Health in Columbus. As of yesterday, investigators confirmed that they collected enough information to lead them to believe that a norovirus is what is...
Louisiana Oyster Warning Issued After Norovirus Outbreak
Dec 31, 2007 | Parker Waichman Alonso LLP
Some Louisiana oysters could cause norovirus. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers against eating oysters harvested from a part of West Karako Bay in Louisiana for possible contamination of the norovirus, also called Norwalk. The FDA said customers must avoid mussels harvested between December 3rd and December 21st from Growing Area Three of the bay. At least seven victims have been reported after eating oysters at a Tennessee restaurant; the mussels...
Norovirus suspected in nearly 25% of Sammamish school's students
May 9, 2007 | Seattle Times
Nearly a quarter of Elizabeth Blackwell Elementary School students in Sammamish were home sick on Tuesday, and county health officials suspect it could be a norovirus outbreak. More than 120 of the school's 560 students were out sick, and 15 more were sent home during the day, said Kathryn Reith, spokeswoman for Lake Washington School District. Nine staff members were out sick Monday and eight had stayed home sick Tuesday. The district heard that some parents kept their children home as a...
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Quick Facts
Norovirus Reference Guide
Ailment
Stomach flu
Other Names of Virus
Norwalk-like
Caliciviruses
Small round structured
Causes
Eating contaminated food
Drinking contaminated liquids
Touching contaminated surfaces
Direct contact with infected person
Symptoms
Vomitting
Dehydration
Diarrhea
Prevention
Frequently wash hands
Wash fruits & vegetables
Steam oysters
Clean contamonated surfaces
Keep bathroom clean|
Related Topics
Campylobacter
Stomach flu
Other Names of Virus
Norwalk-like
Caliciviruses
Small round structured
Causes
Eating contaminated food
Drinking contaminated liquids
Touching contaminated surfaces
Direct contact with infected person
Symptoms
Vomitting
Dehydration
Diarrhea
Prevention
Frequently wash hands
Wash fruits & vegetables
Steam oysters
Clean contamonated surfaces
Keep bathroom clean|
Related Topics
Campylobacter
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