WEB Desk: Norovirus is on the rise across the United States this winter, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Norovirus is a virus that is highly contagious through contaminated surfaces, food and water, and close contact with infected people. It is also known as the ‘vomiting bug’.
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Medicine first discovered norovirus in 1972 using an electron microscope. Since then, they have found many different types of norovirus, some of which can be transmitted to humans.
Here’s what you need to know about the virus and how it spreads.
Where is Norovirus found?
Norovirus can be found throughout the world. They are responsible for about half of all cases of nonbacterial diarrhea.
Children under 5 years old as well as the elderly are weak and most vulnerable. That’s why infectious disease outbreaks often strike daycares or senior living facilities.
There is a risk of infection wherever people are confined in one space for long periods of time.
For example, at the World Athletics Championships in London, there was an epidemic. And in 2012, there was a case in Germany where a medium-sized cruise ship had to be quarantined in Wiesbaden after 67 tourists fell ill, or one every second.
A norovirus outbreak hospitalized hundreds of people in an Italian village in 2024.
Where do viruses come from?
Norovirus always grows inside the human body. They multiply in the digestive tract and are distributed through droplet and contact infections, through stool or vomit.
The smallest trace is enough to infect a healthy person: 10 to 100 virus particles are enough.
Touching a slightly dirty doorknob after going to the bathroom and then eating something with your hands can make you seriously ill after an incubation period of just 6 to 50 hours.
Can food infect me?
A norovirus can survive in a given environment for quite a long time. That’s one way it gets back up, through the food chain, into the human stomach.
For example, fruits and vegetables can carry viruses if manure is used as fertilizer; or if agricultural workers do not wash their hands properly before picking and harvesting fruit.
Another culprit: shellfish from areas where untreated wastewater flows into rivers, lagoons or the ocean.
Finally, drinking water can also be a problem if fresh water pipes run near wastewater pipes. If water shutoffs occur frequently and the pressure in drinking water pipes drops, contaminated water can enter. The same thing can happen if the cesspool is located too close to a drinking water well.
How long is an infected person contagious?
The greatest danger to others is at the time of the illness flare-up (diarrhea and vomiting) but can also last up to two days after symptoms have completely stopped.
After that, the virus can still be excreted for another two weeks or more. During that time, anyone who comes into contact with an infected person must strictly follow the rules of good hygiene.
How can I treat the infection?
There’s not much a doctor can do. If the patient loses a lot of fluids, intravenous fluids may be needed, especially in young children and the elderly.
However, there are no drugs against norovirus. Patients must be isolated as best as possible to prevent infection. And caregivers must take extra precautions.
How can I protect myself?
There is no vaccine that can protect against norovirus. The only thing that helps is washing and disinfecting your hands or doorknobs and other surfaces you come into contact with regularly. This includes the keyboard, remote control, and toilet.
When caregivers come into contact with an infected person, they should wear rubber gloves, a surgical mask, and a gown. Laundry should be washed in hot water.
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Regarding food, one should peel fruits and cook vegetables. And here’s one more thing that definitely won’t hurt: Try drinking lots of lemon water.
Although there is no final scientific proof yet, at least there is good evidence that it helps!