The News & Observer recently reported that norovirus is on the rise in North Carolina, including in Wake and Orange counties.
Highly contagious, this virus can infect someone who ingests only 10 particles of virus. That is smaller than the head of a pin. For example, it usually takes about 100,000 colonies of a bacteria to quantify an infection.
Norovirus Symptoms
Norovirus begins suddenly and causes nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramping. Sometimes, people may also feel tired and experience a low fever, chills, headache and muscle aches. It is contracted in areas of close contact, most commonly in long-term care facilities, schools and restaurants, especially those with buffets. This has commonly been referred to as the “cruise-ship” virus.
Norovirus is spread by direct person-to-person contact or the ingestion of fecal-contaminated food or water.
Protection is relatively easy, but you must be diligent. Strict hand washing with warm water and soap remains the number one way to avoid norovirus.
Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are not effective against norovirus.
Wash your hands frequently with soap and warm water, especially after using the restroom and before eating. Additionally, norovirus is not killed with regular household cleaners. A solution of bleach and water is the best defense.
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