Norovirus is spreading. What’s the best way to protect yourself? : NPR

SCOTT DETROW, HOST:

December is vacation season – lights, bushes, cozy gatherings. And January? Effectively, as soon as once more, January appears to be norovirus season. Norovirus has been on the rise in latest weeks in line with the newest knowledge by the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention. We referred to as up Dr. William Schaffner to assist us higher perceive the virus and assist arm us with the most effective methods to maintain it so far as potential from us. Dr. Schaffner is a professor within the division of infectious illnesses on the Vanderbilt College Faculty of Medication. Welcome to the present.

WILLIAM SCHAFFNER: Good to be with you, Scott.

DETROW: So remind us, what precisely is norovirus?

SCHAFFNER: Norovirus is an intestinal virus. It’s extremely, very extremely contagious, and it may well make you awfully sick for 2 or three days with vomiting and diarrhea. However then you definitely recover from it. The hazard is slightly little bit of dehydration should you lose loads of fluid.

DETROW: How precisely does it unfold?

SCHAFFNER: It spreads very readily.

DETROW: Yeah.

SCHAFFNER: It takes solely a small quantity of virus to truly infect you. The virus may also survive on environmental surfaces for days and even weeks. So you possibly can contact a contaminated floor along with your fingertips after which contact your mouth, and for the reason that dose required to contaminate you is so small, you may get contaminated. After all, you possibly can unfold it individual to individual, and you may contaminate meals and get it that manner. So there are many methods to get norovirus, I am afraid.

DETROW: Which ends up in, like, the highest news-you-can-use query I’ve right here, which is, any person in your home abruptly is sick – you suppose it is in the home. Like, what are the most effective concrete steps to do at that time? – as a result of I believe, sadly, many individuals are coping with that presently of 12 months.

SCHAFFNER: Sure. Effectively, initially, isolate the affected person. You need to be as – have as little contact with the affected person as potential. While you do, put on some gloves, please, after which wash your palms totally with cleaning soap and water. The affected person could also be very sick and spending loads of time within the toilet, so watch out about that, and keep away from the affected person once they’re vomiting. You generally tend to need to consolation them, however the vomit itself can create some viruses within the air. And as soon as once more, the dose is so small that you may truly get it in your lips and such, and bing, then you definitely’re contaminated additionally.

DETROW: I’ve heard varied rumors through the years that Purell or different hand sanitizers are ineffective towards norovirus. Is that true?

SCHAFFNER: That’s true. It is a virus that is immune to the fundamental alcohol-based hand sanitizers and wipes. Cleaning soap and water is one of the best ways to scrub up afterwards.

DETROW: And if none of this works and also you get it anyway, is it simply Gatorade and relaxation? What’s the most effective method?

SCHAFFNER: Yeah, the sports activities drinks are excellent however drink them in sips. If you happen to drink so much, it might come up on you very, in a short time, so preserve sipping. And your level is effectively taken. Dehydration is the problem that may make you even sicker, so attempt to sustain along with your fluid. We’re notably involved with older individuals who’re frail and the very younger as a result of they might be most affected by this dehydration.

DETROW: Last item I am questioning is – any method to know for positive, any tell-tale indicators should you’re considering, is that this norovirus, is that this meals poisoning? Or at that time, does it not likely matter what it’s – you need to simply stay away from different folks and hydrate your self?

SCHAFFNER: Yeah. It is going to be norovirus 99% of the time throughout this season. Particularly, if the sickness begins with a sudden, explosive vomiting episode, that is noro (ph).

DETROW: And that is Dr. William Schaffner, a professor within the division of infectious illnesses on the Vanderbilt College Faculty of Medication. Thanks a lot.

SCHAFFNER: Thanks.

DETROW: Hope you do not get it.

SCHAFFNER: (Laughter).

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