Norovirus — the most common cause of gastroenteritis, commonly mislabeled as “stomach flu” — is everywhere. And it’s often difficult to prevent.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that one in 15 U.S. residents gets sick with norovirus every year, causing up to 71,000 hospitalizations and 800 deaths. Common symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and, on occasion, a low-grade fever.
“People are going to come into contact with norovirus through contaminated foods, contaminated water and from infected individuals who are preparing and handling food,” says Camille Sabella, MD, director of Cleveland Clinic Children’s Center for Pediatric Infectious Diseases. It’s common in places such as restaurants, cruise ships and schools, but also at day care centers, nursing homes and other public places where people tend to crowd in confined spaces.
Norovirus typically peaks between the months of December and April. “That’s very likely related to people being closer together, where there’s an opportunity for person to person contact,” Dr. Sabella says.
But there are ways to keep yourself and your family healthy this winter. To prevent getting and spreading norovirus, Dr. Sabella recommends some common-sense tips:
1. Wash your hands
It sounds simple because it is. Frequent handwashing is perhaps the best way to prevent norovirus — especially if you spend time in one of those crowded settings. Work up a good lather with soap, and wash for at least 20 seconds.
Avoid contact with anyone who’s recently had vomiting and diarrhea if you can. But “that’s not 100 percent effective because occasionally you’ll be around people who don’t have symptoms yet,” Dr. Sabella says. If you are exposed to a sick person, wash your hands immediately. If you are caring for someone with norovirus, wash your hands every time you come into contact with them. Hand sanitizer also may help as an addition to hand-washing, but not a substitution.
2. Keep your hands away from your face
To get this virus, you basically have to ingest it. That means you should consciously avoid touching your face.
Why? If you have come into contact with the virus, touching your mouth, nose or eyes before you get a chance to wash your hands makes it easier for the virus to enter your body.
“The main sources of transmission are contaminated foods and person-to-person contact. That means wiping a doorknob isn’t going to be as effective as your absolute best prevention tip: Wash your hands.”
3. Pay attention to your surroundings
“Be careful about what you see out there,” Dr. Sabella advises.
For example, you don’t have to be a food inspector to spot bad safety practices. If you’re at a buffet where the food is not being handled appropriately—for instance, people are directly touching the food without gloves—then find another place to eat.
4. Practice food safety at home
Remember tip No. 1 about hand washing? It is especially important in the kitchen because norovirus spreads by ingestion. As you prepare food, wash your hands frequently — especially right before serving anything to others. Also, if you have symptoms or know you are sick, stay out of the kitchen and avoid spreading the virus to others.
5. Use appropriate cleaning methods
Someone who is infected with norovirus might be asymptomatic for several days, Dr. Sabella notes. That means you can’t always keep it out of your house — and norovirus is difficult to contain once it has entered your house.
Still, you can take steps to clean up and prevent its spread. For example, focus on scrubbing any commonly touched surfaces such as doorknobs and counter tops. Just remember — the main sources of transmission are contaminated foods and person-to-person contact. That means wiping a doorknob isn’t going to be as effective as your absolute best prevention tip: Wash your hands.
#Norovirus #DiseasePrevention #Germs
