Norovirus Outbreak: Symptoms, Prevention Tips, and Everything You Need to Know

Norovirus Outbreak: Norovirus is a common and very contagious virus. It causes nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Your symptoms may be similar to the stomach flu, but they have a different cause. Norovirus spreads easily through close contact or on contaminated food or surfaces. There isn’t a vaccine for norovirus, but the illness runs its course in fewer than three days.

Treating norovirus

No specific therapy exists for noroviral gastroenteritis. Instead, doctors aim to prevent dehydration and control symptoms.

People with norovirus should eat a light diet consisting of foods that are easy to digest, such as rice, bread, soups, and pasta. Infants with norovirus should continue to follow their regular diet.

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A person will need to ensure that they replace the fluids that they lose through vomiting or diarrhea. Replacing fluids in very young children and older adults is especially crucial, as people in these age groups are particularly susceptible to dehydration.

Some people may find it beneficial to take oral rehydration fluids. Examples of available products include Infalyte, Kao Lectrolyte, Naturalyte, Oralyte, and Pedialyte.

Dehydration can be sudden and, for some people, life threatening. People with dehydration who are not able to drink enough liquids may need to receive fluids intravenously.

What are the symptoms of norovirus?

Symptoms of norovirus include:

Nausea.

Vomiting.

Diarrhea.

Stomach pain.

In addition, you may also have:

A headache.

Fever.

Body aches.

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Prevention

Can norovirus be prevented?

Some precautions you can take to reduce your risk of getting norovirus include:

Washing your hands often with soap and water.

Washing your food before eating it (fruits and vegetables).

Cooking your food thoroughly (especially seafood or shellfish) or to an appropriate temperature (at least 145 degrees Fahrenheit, or 62.77 degrees Celsius).

Avoiding contact with people who have a norovirus infection.

Cleaning and sanitizing frequently touched surfaces and objects.

Washing your clothes thoroughly, especially if they’re soiled.

Using hand sanitizer doesn’t kill norovirus particles as effectively as washing your hands with soap and warm water. If you have a norovirus infection, you shouldn’t prepare food or take care of others, as you’re at risk of spreading the infection.

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