Norovirus: 6 Things You May Not Know

02/09/17 By Dana Szymkowiak

If you haven’t heard yet there are 6 more weeks of winter headed our way (thanks, Punxsutawney Phil for your prediction!) Some of you may live in an area where the worst of winter is behind you – and it will only begin to warm up from here. In Buffalo, every day is a new adventure and you never know what may be on the horizon. 

What is NOT considered a new adventure to be excited for is when you get kicked in the stomach with Norovirus. With the flu running rampant, of course, her counterpart, Norovirus, has to get in on the action too.

Here are 6 facts you may not have known about Norovirus until now!

  1. It mutates just like the flu – Even though they are completely different viruses, they are both RNA viruses. This means that they both use RNA to replicate, making it hard for your immune system to create a proper defense because of mutations; therefore allowing you to become sick with Norovirus year after year according Dr. Aron Hall, CDC’s Norovirus expert.
  2. The flu shot does not prevent Norovirus – Although there is some symptom overlap (body aches, nausea, low-grade fever). We can only wish that one day there will be a “stomach bug vaccine”.
  3. vital-signs-transmission-lg.jpgIt is incredibly difficult to kill – Norovirus is enclosed in a structure called a capsid. It is impermeable to alcohol, so hand sanitizers cannot kill it. You honestly need a disinfectant like our SaniZide Pro® or Sanizide Plus® that is effective against Norovirus.  Also, our SaniZide Plus is a part of the 1839-83 on the EPA G List
  4. One person can infect hundreds – You have probably heard about serious cases where Norovirus infects nearly an entire cruise ship. This virus spreads via the fecal – oral route. Sounds nasty, yes, but it is the truth. This virus makes an estimated 21 million people sick in the US each year. Even after you feel better; you could still be carrying the virus and are able to infect others.
  5. This virus had a name change – Do you remember the Norwalk Virus? Probably not. Norwalk virus is named after Norwalk, Ohio where in 1968 an outbreak of the illness affected Bronson Elementary School. In 2002 the name “Norovirus” was approved by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses.
  6. Dehydration is the biggest risk once you contract the virus – Once the virus is contracted you are likely losing a lot of fluids through watery diarrhea and vomiting. That fluid needs to be replaced. What many do not realize is that water is not the best fluid to intake to rehydrate yourself again because you are losing sodium, potassium, and electrolytes. Skip the sports drinks and rehydrate with Pedialyte or another oral electrolyte solutions that contain salts and sugar as well as water.

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Sources: https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/5-things-you-didn-t-know-about-nasty-stomach-flu-n714241
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norovirus
https://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20568435,00.html