Norovirus is spreading. What’s one of the simplest ways to guard your self? : NPR

SCOTT DETROW, HOST:

December is vacation season – lights, bushes, cozy gatherings. And January? Properly, as soon as once more, January appears to be norovirus season. Norovirus has been on the rise in current weeks in response to the newest information 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 attainable from us. Dr. Schaffner is a professor within the division of infectious illnesses on the Vanderbilt College Faculty of Drugs. 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 could possibly make you awfully sick for 2 or three days with vomiting and diarrhea. However then you definitely recover from it. The hazard is a little bit little bit of dehydration in the event you lose lots 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 really infect you. The virus can even survive on environmental surfaces for days and even weeks. So you possibly can contact a contaminated floor together with your fingertips after which contact your mouth, and for the reason that dose required to contaminate you is so small, you will get contaminated. After all, you possibly can unfold it individual to individual, and you may contaminate meals and get it that means. So there are many methods to get norovirus, I am afraid.

DETROW: Which results in, like, the highest news-you-can-use query I’ve right here, which is, anyone in your home all of a sudden is sick – you assume 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 at the moment of yr.

SCHAFFNER: Sure. Properly, to begin with, isolate the affected person. You need to be as – have as little contact with the affected person as attainable. While you do, put on some gloves, please, after which wash your fingers totally with cleaning soap and water. The affected person could also be very sick and spending lots of time within the lavatory, so watch out about that, and steer clear of the affected person once they’re vomiting. You 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 can really 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 in opposition to norovirus. Is that true?

SCHAFFNER: That’s true. It is a virus that is proof against the fundamental alcohol-based hand sanitizers and wipes. Cleaning soap and water is one of the simplest ways to clean 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. In the event you drink lots, it could come up on you very, in a short time, so maintain sipping. And your level is effectively taken. Dehydration is the difficulty that may make you even sicker, so attempt to sustain together with your fluid. We’re notably involved with older individuals who’re frail and the very younger as a result of they could be most affected by this dehydration.

DETROW: Final thing I am questioning is – any strategy to know for positive, any tell-tale indicators in the event you’re considering, is that this norovirus, is that this meals poisoning? Or at that time, does it not likely matter what it’s – it’s best to simply avoid different folks and hydrate your self?

SCHAFFNER: Yeah. It will be norovirus 99% of the time throughout this season. Specifically, 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 Drugs. Thanks a lot.

SCHAFFNER: Thanks.

DETROW: Hope you aren’t getting it.

SCHAFFNER: (Laughter).

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