Amidst the surge in COVID-19 cases and relaxation of curbs, the United Kingdom reports an outbreak of norovirus infections. The Public Health England (PHE) issued a warning recently. Here’s everything about norovirus, how it spreads, and its symptoms.
What is norovirus?
Norovirus or the ‘winter vomiting bug’, is highly contagious. The name comes from its most common symptoms – diarrhea and vomiting. Moreover, it can infect anyone. In other words, it is stomach flu that is not flu at all. On average, the virus causes 19 to 21 million cases annually in the US and over 450,000 patients need a visit to the emergency room, according to reports by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
How does this virus spread?
This virus spreads through direct contact with an infected individual and, consumption of contaminated water or food. Additionally, it can spread through touching contaminated and then touching your mouth before washing your hands.
What are the symptoms of the norovirus?
According to the information on CDC’s official website diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and stomach pains are the most common symptoms of the infection. Additionally, it can also cause body aches, headaches, fever, etc. It can also cause acute gastroenteritis, inflammation of the intestines, or stomach.
How to prevent the norovirus?
Norovirus does not have a specific treatment. However, doctors recommend consuming a lot of fluids to replace the ones lost from diarrhea and vomiting. Consuming liquids with salts can help in the prevention of dehydration. Additionally, doctors will prescribe pain medication to manage stomach pain, fever, and body pain.
According to the expert’s reports. it is important to maintain good hygiene, wash hands and use sanitizers. We should also wash fruits and vegetables before eating or cooking them. Those infected with the virus should avoid cooking till the symptoms stop since it can increase the disease transmission.