Description

In this episode of A Moment with Marley, we would like to discuss Norovirus.

Norovirus is sometimes called the "stomach flu" or the "stomach bug." However, norovirus illness is not related to the flu. The flu is caused by the influenza virus. Norovirus causes acute gastroenteritis, an inflammation of the stomach or intestines.

Norovirus causes symptoms like:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Stomach cramps, and
• Sometimes fever, headache, or body aches

Symptoms usually hit fast — within 12 to 48 hours of exposure — and most people recover in 1–3 days.
Norovirus is very contagious and spreads very easily and quickly in different ways. It only takes as few as 10 virus particles to make you sick. Some of those ways are:

• Coming into direct contact with an infected person, like caring for them, sharing food or eating utensils with them, or eating food handled by them.
• Eating food or drinking liquids that are contaminated with norovirus, and
• Touching contaminated objects or surfaces and then putting your unwashed fingers in your mouth. Norovirus can survive on surfaces for days to weeks and resists many common disinfectants.

There’s no specific antiviral medication for norovirus. Treatment is mostly about rest and staying hydrated. 
Most people recover on their own, but young children, older adults, and immunocompromised people can become dangerously dehydrated and may need medical care.

Handwashing is your best defense to protect yourself from Norovirus. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

Other prevention tips include:

• Washing fruits and vegetables thoroughly before preparing and eating;
• Cooking oysters and other shellfish thoroughly to an internal temperature of at least 145°F; and
• Disinfecting surfaces with bleach-based cleaners, following directions on the product label. 

If you do get sick, it is important to not prepare or handle food, or care for others. Wait at least 2 days (48 hours) after symptoms stop. This is important if you work in a restaurant, school, daycare, long-term care facility, or other places where you may expose people to norovirus.

For more information, please visit our website at www.meridenhealth.com.