Who’s at risk? People of all ages can get infected and fall sick from norovirus. Young children, older people and those with weakened immune systems are most at risk, with dehydration from vomiting and diarrhea the top concern. Rigorous and frequent handwashing is the best defense against norovirus during the peak winter season, scrubbing the […]
Who’s at risk?
People of all ages can get infected and fall sick from norovirus. Young children, older people and those with weakened immune systems are most at risk, with dehydration from vomiting and diarrhea the top concern.
Rigorous and frequent handwashing is the best defense against norovirus during the peak winter season, scrubbing the hands with soap and warm water for 20 seconds before meals.
How do you get it?
How can I protect myself?
What is norovirus?
There is no medication to treat norovirus. Rehydration is recommended by drinking water and other liquids, with the exception of coffee, tea and alcohol.
“Norovirus usually peaks between February and April. It remains to be seen if we will have an earlier peak this year, or whether these levels will continue to rise,” Wolfe said.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The appearance of Noravirus is up in Sacramento and California, according to wastewater data, and has been on the rise since mid-October.
Illness caused by norovirus typically starts suddenly, with symptoms developing 12 to 48 hours following exposure to the virus. Most people get better within one to three days and recover fully.
Norovirus is the leading cause of foodborne illness in the United States, responsible for 58% of such infections acquired in the country each year, according to the CDC.
But with 19 to 21 million illnesses each year in the United States, norovirus nevertheless causes, on average, 900 deaths and 109,000 hospitalizations annually, mostly among adults aged 65 and older. It also leads to 465,000 emergency department visits, mostly involving young children.
The outbreaks can occur throughout the year but are most common from November to April.
Along with vomiting and diarrhea, common symptoms include nausea, stomach pain, body ache, headache and fever.
How long do you stay sick?
Anyone suffering from dehydration should seek medical help. Symptoms of dehydration include a decrease in urination, dry mouth and throat, and feeling dizzy when standing. Dehydrated children may be unusually sleepy or fussy and cry with few or no tears.
Dr. Marlene Wolfe, the Co-principal investigator with WastewaterSCAN said there is increased detection of norovirus at California’s wastewater testing sites.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, from August to December, 495 norovirus outbreaks were reported across the country, compared to 363 outbreaks reported during the same time period last year.
“We expect to see norovirus increasing at this time of year, so this pattern of an increase during the winter is normal. Our data do suggest that the current levels are higher than previous years,” Wolfe told ABC10.
Scrubbing surfaces with household disinfectants can also help.
Most norovirus outbreaks occur when people who are already infected spread the virus to others by direct means, such as through sharing food or eating utensils. Outbreaks can also be spread through food, water or contaminated surfaces.
Dr. Marlene Wolfe, the Co-principal investigator with WastewaterSCAN says the rising trend is for all of California and is not region-specific.
Norovirus infections are caused by a group of viruses that spread easily, with as few as 10 viral particles having the ability to make someone sick, health experts say.
There are about 2,500 norovirus outbreaks reported annually in the United States.
