While the rest of the world is dealing with COVID-19, United Kingdom is dealing with Norovirus. Norovirus, often known as the “winter vomiting bug,” is a gastrointestinal virus that causes diarrhoea and vomiting. It can be rather uncomfortable, but it generally passes in a couple of days.
Public Health England (PHE) has just issued a warning after norovirus infections have been quickly increasing. PHE reports that 154 instances of norovirus have been detected in England since the end of May. Cases of this extremely infectious virus have also been recorded in educational institutions such as nurseries and daycare centres.
Is Norovirus similar to Coronavirus?
Norovirus, like coronavirus, can cause asymptomatic infection in certain people. It also mutates quickly, to the point that routine testing kits occasionally fail to recognise the evolved form.
In the same way, as Covid-19 produces diarrhoea in some people, the norovirus causes diarrhoea in the majority of persons who are sick. Norovirus distributes and adheres to surfaces in the same way as respiratory viruses like coronavirus do.
Transmission:
- Coming into close contact with an infected individual,
- Drinking contaminated food or water,
- Touching contaminated surfaces,
- Eating with that hand are all ways to get norovirus.
According to the CDC, persons who are sick with norovirus can shed billions of virus particles, but just a few virus particles can make other people sick.
Symptoms:
- Diarrhoea,
- Vomiting,
- Nausea,
- Stomach pain,
- Fever,
- Headaches,
- Body aches.
Acute gastroenteritis (inflammation of the stomach or intestines) is another side effect. After catching the virus, a person begins to display symptoms 12 to 48 hours later, and most individuals recover in one to three days.
Prevention:
There is currently no norovirus vaccine available. Norovirus can be avoided by following preventive techniques similar to the Covid-19 guidelines.
Hand hygiene is recommended, which includes washing hands after using the restroom, eating meals, cooking food, changing diapers, and taking medications. Hand sanitisers containing alcohol are suggested for maintaining hand hygiene.
Apart from that, it is advised that surfaces be cleaned and disinfected on a regular basis, as well as that clothes be washed completely.
Treatment:
There is no particular treatment to treat norovirus, according to the CDC. To minimise dehydration, those infected with this virus should consume enough liquids to replenish the fluid lost via vomiting and diarrhoea.