Norovirus is not called “Winter Vomiting” for nothing. It can cause vomiting and diarrhea, often in the form of “projectile vomiting” and “explosive diarrhea.” And outbreaks and flare-ups tend to occur during the Winter. The current Winter is no exception, as well the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). show that there have been increases in much of the US
The northeastern part of the US has experienced the largest increase with over 13% of norovirus tests has been testing positive for the bug since late January. The next highest region was the western part of the US, where Test positive rates have exceeded 12% in recent weeks. Now, those numbers are still down from last winter's peaks that saw positivity rates for norovirus well above 15 percent across the country.
Keep in mind that a positive test is only a very rough measure of overall norovirus activity. One such measure depends on how many norovirus tests were ordered on a given day or during a given week. This, of course, can vary depending on many different factors. For example, if there is more news about norovirus cases, healthcare professionals may be more likely to order a norovirus test for someone with symptoms of some type of gastroenteritis.
Most people with a norovirus infection will not end up getting tested for norovirus unless they go to some type of health care. And even in a healthcare setting, doctors don't always end up testing for norovirus. This is because there is no specific treatment for norovirus.
Instead, you and the doctors are left to manage the symptoms of a norovirus infection and try to prevent them from leading to further complications. The most common symptoms are vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramps that usually start 12 to 48 hours after the virus has passed through your pie hole and last for one to three days. You may experience a low-grade fever, chills, headaches and muscle aches as well.
The biggest problem with norovirus infection symptoms is that they tend not to be the usual symptoms of gastroenteritis. As the words “projectile” and “explosive” suggest, the vomiting and diarrhea with norovirus is usually much worse. We're talking oh-my-god-what-is-happening-and-I'm-just-going-to-bend-out-in-or-next-to-the-toilet-basin worse.
Since a lot of fluid can come out of both ends, dehydration is a real risk. This dehydration can cause many complications, potentially life-threatening, especially if you are a young child or older adult or have other medical conditions. If you notice a decrease in your urine output, a dry mouth and throat, or dizziness when you stand up, you are probably dehydrated and need to increase your fluid intake. Of course, “drink this” might not be the first thing you want to hear when you throw up. So, if you find that you can't keep up with the fluid loss, you may want to be seen by a doctor.
Another big problem with this little virus is that it can be hyper-contagious. In some ways, norovirus is the Thanos of gastrointestinal pathogens. It can survive through all kinds of standard cleaning materials. Furthermore, only 10 to 100 virus particles are needed to infect a person. Just like the Avengers needed the Infinity Stones to defeat Thanos, you'll need a 1,000 to 5,000 ppm chlorine bleach solution or some other type of EPA-registered disinfectant to be effective. against norovirus. You can use such a bleach solution or disinfectant on surfaces, but don't use it, don't use it, don't use it on people. Never ingest or inject bleach into your body, no matter who may suggest you do so.
Also, since this virus is highly contagious, take proper precautions when you have or are around norovirus. Wear rubber or disposable gloves when handling objects or surfaces that may be contaminated. When disposing of anything that may be contaminated, make sure that no one – especially children, pets, and any pets you may treat as children – accidentally touch the material. It's never a good idea to say, “Junior, go play with the trash.” But in this case, garbage that is not properly isolated could start an outbreak. Additionally, keep anyone with a norovirus infection physically isolated. This is no time to start licking their possessions.
Time will tell if the US has already reached the noro peak for this Winter or if there will be new heights to reach. Furthermore, the spread of norovirus is not limited to winter. As the CDC curves show, while norovirus activity tends to decrease during the warmer months, it can still be present during all other months, despite its very “winter” moniker.
