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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
Few School Cafeterias Inspected
Dec 16, 2009
We’ve been following the issue of meats being supplied to this country’s school lunch program that are not always as actively tested for food borne pathogens as some meat used in fast food restaurants. We’ve also been following stories involving outbreaks of Norovirus in schools, most recently an outbreak that sickened hundreds in a Staten Island school over the past week. Now, USA Today is reporting that school cafeterias are not being vigilantly inspected and people are...
Oysters May Be Tied To Norovirus Outbreak
Dec 7, 2009 | Parker Waichman Alonso LLP
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is advising consumers to avoid eating oysters harvested from the San Antonio Bay on or after November 16 due to reports of norovirus-associated illnesses in some people who had consumed oysters harvested from this area, which is located on the Gulf of Texas.Norovirus, a group of viruses that cause gastroenteritis are not helped with antibiotics. People become infected by eating food or drinking liquids contaminated with norovirus; touching surfaces or...
Cruise Ship Norovirus Study Points Finger at Dirty Public Bathrooms
Nov 17, 2009 | Parker Waichman Alonso LLP
A norovirus outbreak has ruined more than one cruise vacation. Now a new study suggests that keeping public restrooms on cruse ships clean could go a long way in preventing norovirus among passengers and crew.Unfortunately, the study, which was published in the journal "Clinical Infections Diseases" found that public bathrooms on cruise ships are not being cleaned properly. What's more, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which runs a cruise...
Norovirus Shuts Down Massachusetts' Babson College
Mar 30, 2009 | Parker Waichman Alonso LLP
Babson College in Wellesley, near Boston, Massachusetts, is closing until at least Wednesday following what is believed to be a norovirus outbreak there. NBC News reported that about 100 students and staff fell ill with severe nausea and vomiting and the Examiner reported that some students have been hospitalized with dehydration.Tom Lyons, a spokesman for the State Department of Health in Massachusetts, described the norovirus as being "miserable," but not life-threatening,...
Mississippi Area Oysters Recalled Over Norovirus Illness
Mar 23, 2009 | Parker Waichman Alonso LLP
Oysters recently harvested from Mississippi Area 2C might be linked to about one dozen norovirus illnesses, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is reporting. The FDA is advising food service operators and retailers not to offer oysters harvested between February 23 and March 17, 2009 that were harvested from this area for sale; consumers are advised not to each such oysters.Mississippi Area 2C is located in the Mississippi Sound portion of the Gulf of Mexico near Pass Christian,...
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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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