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While the world is still battling the Covid-19 virus, there is an outbreak of another highly infectious virus called norovirus in the UK. Public Health England (PHE) recently issued a warning after norovirus cases are rising rapidly.
According to PHE, since the end of May, England has reported 154 cases of norovirus. It has also been noted that cases of this highly contagious virus are being reported in educational institutions such as nurseries and day care centers.
Here is what you need to know about this virus:
What is norovirus?
According to the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a “norovirus is a very contagious virus that causes vomiting and diarrhea.” It is also known as the vomiting bug.
Similar to the Covid-19 virus, norovirus is also contagious.
Read | We should treat Covid like a norovirus – not the flu
How can someone get infected?
You can become infected with norovirus by coming into direct contact with an infected person, eating contaminated food or water, or touching contaminated surfaces, and then using that hand to eat.
The CDC says people with norovirus disease can shed billions of norovirus particles, and only a few viral particles can make other people sick.
What are the symptoms of norovirus?
Symptoms of a norovirus infection include diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, stomach pain, fever, headache, and body aches.
It also causes acute gastroenteritis which is inflammation of the stomach or intestines.
A person begins to show symptoms within 12 to 48 hours of contracting the virus, and most people get better within one to three days.
Read | New variant to drive the next wave of Covid-19: government health advisor
How does norovirus look like coronavirus?
Similar to coronavirus, norovirus can also be asymptomatic in some patients.
It also mutates quickly, so much so that sometimes standard test kits cannot recognize the advanced version.
Since Covid-19 causes diarrhea in some people, norovirus also causes diarrhea in most people who are infected.
Norovirus spreads and adheres to the surface, much like respiratory viruses like the coronavirus.
what is the treatement?
According to the CDC, there is no specific drug to treat norovirus. People infected with this virus are advised to drink plenty of fluids to replace fluid lost due to vomiting and diarrhea to avoid dehydration.
How to protect yourself from norovirus?
There is no vaccine available against norovirus yet.
You can protect yourself from norovirus by practicing prevention methods similar to Covid-19 protocols. It is advisable to practice good hand hygiene – washing your hands after using the toilet, eating, before cooking, after changing diapers and also before taking medication.
Alcohol-based disinfectants are recommended to maintain hand hygiene. Apart from this, it is recommended to regularly clean and disinfect the surfaces while washing the laundry thoroughly.
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