Safety alert
date: 5/9/2007
Potent virus spreads in close quarters
A virulent new illness called norovirus was responsible for a wave of sickness last winter, wreaking havoc on cruise ships. ConsumerReportsHealth.org tells you how to protect yourself and your family.
Subscribe to ConsumerReportsHealth.org today and get common sense tips on what you and other caregivers can do to protect your children and older relatives from getting norovirus, and what to do if they have this condition.
A virulent new strain of a gastrointestinal bug called norovirus was responsible for a wave of illness last winter, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has determined. Best known for wreaking havoc on cruise ships, norovirus outbreaks have also raged in hospitals, nursing homes, summer camps, and college dorms.
Noroviruses cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps that can appear quickly and violently. Highly contagious, they thrive in contained, crowded environments. The new strain appears to spread faster and more readily than older versions. And scientists surmise that it might live longer than older strains on such surfaces as elevator buttons, telephones, and countertops, as well as in the body, which could make infected people contagious for longer time periods.
What you can do. While a bout of norovirus isn’t serious for most people, it can be dangerous for young children, older people, or those with weakened immunity, all of whom are especially vulnerable to dehydration. If you suspect you have a norovirus, drink plenty of water or juice, avoid close contact with others, and don’t prepare food until at least several days after symptoms subside. Call your doctor; depending on the severity of the case, he or she might want to check you for dehydration. Small sips of a carbonated drink might help ease vomiting. Acetaminophen (Tylenol and generic) can quell discomfort from fever if you develop one.
The best prevention against norovirus is frequent hand washing with soap and water, and careful washing of produce. If you suspect someone living with you has a norovirus, disinfect common surfaces regularly with a bleach-based cleaner. And wash with hot water any clothing or linens that might harbor the virus.
If you have children bound for summer camp this year, encourage them not to share food or drinks with other kids, another means of transmitting the virus. Several norovirus outbreaks were reported by the CDC at camps in Wisconsin and Wyoming in 2001 and 2007, respectively. While the Wyoming outbreak was later traced to contaminated water, the Wisconsin outbreak was caused by person-to-person transmission.
Noroviruses cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps that can appear quickly and violently. Highly contagious, they thrive in contained, crowded environments. The new strain appears to spread faster and more readily than older versions. And scientists surmise that it might live longer than older strains on such surfaces as elevator buttons, telephones, and countertops, as well as in the body, which could make infected people contagious for longer time periods.
What you can do. While a bout of norovirus isn’t serious for most people, it can be dangerous for young children, older people, or those with weakened immunity, all of whom are especially vulnerable to dehydration. If you suspect you have a norovirus, drink plenty of water or juice, avoid close contact with others, and don’t prepare food until at least several days after symptoms subside. Call your doctor; depending on the severity of the case, he or she might want to check you for dehydration. Small sips of a carbonated drink might help ease vomiting. Acetaminophen (Tylenol and generic) can quell discomfort from fever if you develop one.
The best prevention against norovirus is frequent hand washing with soap and water, and careful washing of produce. If you suspect someone living with you has a norovirus, disinfect common surfaces regularly with a bleach-based cleaner. And wash with hot water any clothing or linens that might harbor the virus.
If you have children bound for summer camp this year, encourage them not to share food or drinks with other kids, another means of transmitting the virus. Several norovirus outbreaks were reported by the CDC at camps in Wisconsin and Wyoming in 2001 and 2007, respectively. While the Wyoming outbreak was later traced to contaminated water, the Wisconsin outbreak was caused by person-to-person transmission.
This article first appeared in the June 2007 issue of Consumer Reports on Health.
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