It has been around and covered for many years all over the globe. It is an extremely contagious gastrointestinal (GI) infection that can produce sudden, severe vomiting and diarrhea. Although it can occasionally produce fever, chills, and generalized body aches, the GI symptoms are the most noticeable.
It typically spreads through tainted food and drinks or from dirty areas used for food preparation. Additionally, contact with an infected individual can spread it. The places where it happens most frequently are crowded places like classrooms, nursing homes, airplanes, and cruise ships. Winter is when it happens most frequently.
Vomiting and diarrhea can start to show anywhere between 12 and 24 hours after exposure, indicating a rapid transmission. For the majority of individuals, the illness only lasts up to three days before they are fully recovered. The vomiting and diarrhea, however, may necessitate medical attention or hospitalization for extreme dehydration in those who are more vulnerable, such as small children, the elderly, and those with a weakened immune system or chronic illnesses.
This year, norovirus cases have been gradually increasing in England, and it appears that a similar trend is happening in the United States. Since many individuals with mild symptoms do not seek testing or medical attention and since it is not a condition that healthcare providers are required to report, the illness is underreported.
17% of norovirus tests were positive as of February 4—a greater percentage than at any point last winter. Although the numbers are rising, they are still not at epidemic levels in this area. It is difficult to estimate the exact number of cases because the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) only collect information during norovirus outbreaks, not from arbitrary labs or hospitals. A cluster of cases from the same location, such as a restaurant or school, constitutes an outbreak and needs to be notified to the CDC.
Because many, if not most, states redirected a large portion of their public health services, including reporting, to COVID-19 case counts and public education on the pandemic, the COVID-19 pandemic created issues for reporting norovirus outbreaks. Unfortunately, this implies that the actual number of norovirus outbreaks was higher than the CDC’s estimates.
Also, encounters were restricted by the pandemic lockdowns. Restaurants and schools were shuttered. For infection control, hospitals and care homes were on extremely high alert. The spread of almost all seasonal illnesses greatly decreased as a result of our increased diligence with hand washing and distance.
This was beneficial in many ways, but because we were exposed to fewer disease-causing pathogens, our immunity to them declined, leaving some individuals more vulnerable to the recurrence of those diseases. (This also applies to the respiratory syncytial virus or RSV). According to the CDC, there were 25 norovirus cases in the United States between December 26, 2022, and January 2.
While it is challenging to predict these figures with any degree of certainty, trends in Europe frequently find their way to the United States, as we have seen with other diseases.
The COVID-19 virus has been particularly lethal because it frequently mutated, exposing individuals to new variants and additional illnesses in defiance of vaccination. The fact that norovirus has not experienced many mutations is the only thing to be happy about. The “Sydney strain,” which has dominated for a while, is the type that is currently infecting people.
Luckily, we are able to stop both individual infections and public outbreaks. For many transmissible diseases, hand hygiene will still be the first line of defense. It’s interesting to note that soap and water are more effective at eradicating this infection than those alcohol-based hand sanitizers. The transmission of disease can be slowed down by avoiding sick people, donning a mask around those who are coughing or throwing up, and thoroughly cleaning surfaces in the home with a bleach-based product.
Schools and children can serve as breeding grounds for contagious illnesses like norovirus. They share toys, play very closely with each other, and neglect to wash their hands unless they are being watched. They bring illness into the family, and frequently everyone becomes ill.
Although norovirus is extremely unpleasant, it generally only lasts a short while. The goal of treatment is to alleviate symptoms, and maintaining adequate hydration is crucial. Every 30 minutes, consume water and an electrolyte liquid like Pedialyte or diluted Gatorade, making sure you can urinate at least every six hours.
If necessary, over-the-counter antiemetics can be used to treat nausea. When experiencing episodes of diarrhea, wait before eating solid foods; once they stop, commence with dry toast or a banana. If you have trouble swallowing liquids, have bloody feces, or if your symptoms last longer than three to four days, see a doctor.
Keep in mind that for a few weeks after the active sickness, we can harbor and shed the norovirus, so be diligent about hand washing and surface cleaning. We’re hoping to stop an epidemic.
A seasoned nurse practitioner, Mia Smitt. She regularly contributes a piece to Tucson Local Media.
