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NOROVIRUS – WHAT IS IT, AND HOW CAN WE STOP IT?
P icture the scene – you’re having a great time with friends at an office party or family get-together. A few days later, you start feeling sick – vomiting, diarrhoea, and intense stomach pains. The reason? Norovirus. Norovirus, one of the most infectious viruses, has earned the title of “winter vomiting bug” due to outbreaks usually happening during the colder months. However, it can spread and infect at any time of the year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), norovirus is responsible for an estimated 21 million cases every year in the US alone. The most challenging part about combating norovirus is its strength; it can last on surfaces for two weeks while managing
gastroenteritis – inflammation of the stomach and intestines. It is the leading cause of foodborne illness across the globe. Normally, its symptoms appear in a window of 12 to 48 hours after exposure and lasts for one to three days. Following are
some of the common symptoms: • Sudden nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhoea, often watery • Severe stomach cramps • Low-grade fever and chills • Fatigue and muscle aches Unlike bacterial infections, norovirus cannot be treated with antibiotics. The only course of action is to rest while staying adequately hydrated.
to survive many disinfectants. This makes norovirus highly resilient and challenging to eliminate, meaning that infection from one contaminated surface or hand can facilitate a major outbreak. Whether you’re in the healthcare industry or managing a home, knowing how to mitigate the risk of norovirus is relevant for everyone. This article discusses basic information relating to norovirus, its spread, potential dangers, and, more importantly, strategies to engage
“THE MOST CHALLENGING PART ABOUT COMBATING NOROVIRUS IS ITS STRENGTH”
HOW CONTAGIOUS IS NOROVIRUS? Norovirus is highly contagious. It can infect people at a rapid pace, infecting one out of every 5 individuals every year globally. The norovirus accounts for half the outbreaks of foodborne illnesses in the US. It spreads easily and can affect anyone and all age groups. There are three ways norovirus can spread:
in and stop its spread. Uniwipe Clinical Disinfectant Wipes are effective against Norovirus and are particularly tailored for high-traffic areas like hospitals, schools, offices, and care homes. Prevention is the best step in staying healthy, so let’s get started! WHAT IS NOROVIRUS? Norovirus is known to be a highly contagious virus causing
contaminated food, water, and surfaces. And it’s so easy to get infected, as you only need 18 viral particles to get infected – significantly less than the flu, which requires thousands of viral particles to cause infection. The virus can be transmitted via: • Direct exposure to infected individuals through handshakes and hugs. • Drinking infected water or eating contaminated food.
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