Doctors offer tips to prevent stomach flu to stay healthy during NYE as norovirus cases rise
US health officials are on high alert amid a growing number of cases of a potentially deadly stomach virus.
Norovirus, also called stomach virus or gastroenteritis, causes severe diarrhea and vomiting, potentially leading to life-threatening dehydration – and is spreading rapidly across the country.
Norovirus infects about 21 million Americans each year, sending about 2 million of them to the doctor or emergency room. About 465,000 people go to the emergency department with the virus every year.
State health officials reported 91 outbreaks of norovirus — considered a group of two or more cases arising from a common source — during the week of Dec. 5, up from 69 the week before. By comparison, only two outbreaks occurred in the same week in 2021.
The virus spreads when a person is exposed to germs from the vomit or feces of a sick person. A person can also become ill by eating contaminated food, sharing food or utensils with a person harboring the virus, and by touching surfaces that a sick person has previously touched.
Doctors say illness can be avoided by thoroughly cooking seafood to at least 145 degrees, washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, washing produce before eating, disinfecting countertops and avoiding people who are infected.
Outbreaks are most common in congregate living facilities such as nursing homes and prisons, as well as on cruise ships and in schools. Earlier this month, more than 300 passengers on three different cruise ships contracted the norovirus.
Current data are not comprehensive and the number of cases is likely higher than reported. The CDC does not report individual cases because the infection usually goes away on its own within a few days and is not diagnosed by a doctor and goes unreported.
Just over a dozen states participate in the CDC’s national disease surveillance system.
Norovirus causes severe diarrhea and vomiting, which can potentially lead to life-threatening dehydration.
According to the CDC, “This year, the number of reported norovirus outbreaks has exceeded the numbers seen recently and in the years before the pandemic.”
Norovirus cases tend to peak in winter and early spring, when people are more likely to be indoors and close to others infected with the virus.
Symptoms of norovirus – nausea, vomiting and diarrhea – occur quickly, within 12 to 48 hours after exposure.
Most people recover within a few days.
But the virus kills about 900 people every year, mostly adults 65 and older.
The infection can lead to serious complications, especially in people whose immune systems are already weak.
Dehydration is a top priority. When the body rapidly loses fluids and electrolytes through repeated vomiting and bouts of diarrhea, a person may experience dangerously low blood pressure, reduced blood flow to their organs, and an electrolyte imbalance that can damage the heart and muscles.
An electrolyte imbalance can also cause seizures and sometimes loss of consciousness.
Norovirus is commonly spread through undercooked shellfish contaminated with the virus in the water. Oysters are a common source.
They suck in large amounts of water to extract food particles. If that water is contaminated with norovirus, those oysters can consume virus particles that build up in their tissues and infect people who eat them.
Oysters are filter feeders, meaning they absorb large amounts of water from which they extract nutrients. If that water is contaminated with norovirus, they collect particles that build up in their tissues
Norovirus infections are common on cruise ships due to limited space and shared facilities such as swimming pools and hot tubs, which can become hotspots for infections
Earlier this month, the FDA announced a sweeping recall of oysters and mussels harvested in Washington due to possible norovirus contamination.
The recall made no mention of any illnesses linked to the shellfish, but advised restaurants to stop serving them and throw them away immediately.
A few days later, the recall was expanded to include shellfish harvested in Canada. All told, the potentially contaminated seafood was shipped to Arizona, California, Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan and New York.
People should avoid eating raw oysters because cooking is essential to kill the virus, including boiling for at least three minutes, steaming for at least four minutes, and frying, baking or broiling until the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees.
Virus particles can also land on countertops and other kitchen work surfaces such as cutting boards. It is essential to disinfect them with a disinfectant.
The particles can remain there for days or even weeks at a time.
Soap and water kill the virus better than hand sanitizers because of the unique structure of the virus particles. Alcohol cannot penetrate the particles; hard outer shell.
And it only takes a few of those particles to make someone sick.
The virus is highly transmissible and a person can remain contagious for up to two weeks after symptoms disappear.
To reduce the chance of spreading the virus, the CDC recommends washing and drying all linens on the highest setting for as long as possible. The infected person should also avoid the kitchen.
There is no antiviral treatment for norovirus and doctors recommend supplementing fluids with sugar-free drinks that are rich in electrolytes.
When it comes to food, the milder the better, including clear broth, applesauce, crackers, rice and toast. Dairy products, as well as fatty foods, spicy foods and alcohol should be avoided.