'Tis the season to clean your hands and watch what you eat.
Norovirus, a stomach virus that causes vomiting and diarrhea, is making Florida residents sick through contaminated surfaces and contaminated shellfish.
Remarkable: On average, one infected person infects two to seven other people.
“It only takes a few virus particles to cause infection, so it doesn't take much exposure to get sick with norovirus,” he said By Margaret Gorensan infectious disease doctor at Holy Cross Health in Fort Lauderdale.
RELATED: FDA publicizes recall of oysters sold in California and other states because of norovirus concerns
Noroviruses can spread through food, touch and airborne particles.
Earlier this week, the Food and Drug Administration issued two separate seafood recalls in states because of possible norovirus contamination.
On Monday, the FDA warned restaurants, food retailers and consumers in seven states, including Florida, to not eat or sell oysters and manila clams from Rudy's Shellfish in Washington. Two days later, the agency issued one other recall in 15 states, including Florida, for oysters sold as Fanny Bay, Buckley Bay and Royal Miyagi Oysters from British Columbia, Canada. Both recalls indicated possible contamination with norovirus. The recall didn’t mention any reported illnesses related to the oysters and mussels.
Shellfish can absorb untreated human wastewater containing norovirus; If people eat the contaminated shellfish, they’ll turn out to be infected.
Most people experience symptoms 12 to 48 hours after eating contaminated food. The most typical symptoms are nausea, stomach pain, fever, headache and body aches.
When norovirus spreads through direct contact, it normally occurs through shaking hands or touching contaminated surfaces after which putting the hand within the mouth. Such spread often occurs in restaurants, schools and on cruise ships.
This month, norovirus has wreaked havoc on cruise ships. Four ships have reported outbreaks thus far in December, with one ship reporting greater than 100 sick passengers the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
There have been 13 norovirus outbreaks reported on cruise ships this 12 months, but that is the primary time the virus has been confirmed on three ships and suspected on a fourth inside a month. These ships include Holland America's Zuiderdam and Rotterdam and Princess Cruise's Ruby Princess. The most up-to-date outbreak occurred on Cunard's Queen Mary 2, and although passengers experienced norovirus-like symptoms, the precise gastrointestinal illness has not been confirmed.
In all cases, the cruise ships isolated sick passengers and crew members and implemented increased cleansing and disinfection procedures.
Gorensek of Holy Cross said norovirus is seasonal and sometimes spreads more in the course of the winter. “We typically see it more often when people spend time together.”
She said anyone touching food for holiday meals without washing their hands thoroughly can quickly spread it.
Unlike other viruses, norovirus is difficult to kill on surfaces or hands.
“A quick dose of hand sanitizer doesn’t help, just soap and water,” she said. “Bleach-based products work best on surfaces.”
Noroviruses are also relatively heat resistant and might survive temperatures as much as 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
Inhaling airborne norovirus particles can occur — perhaps in an airplane's lavatory — but this approach to spread is less common than contact with contaminated surfaces or food.
Anyone who becomes infected with norovirus must make sure that they drink enough fluids. Gorensek recommends Pedialyte, Gatorade, or broth. “Water is not good because it doesn’t give you the electrolytes you need,” she said.
Young children and people with underlying health conditions should be especially careful, she said, because “they are vulnerable to dehydration and are most at risk.”
Originally published:
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