Norovirus is a sickness that can make people vomit and have diarrhea. Recently, many people in the Northeast part of America got sick from Norovirus. The top way people get Norovirus is by eating food with the virus in it.
The number of sick people is higher in winter, especially in the Northeast. The virus also affected people in the South, Midwest and West parts of America, but not as much as in the Northeast.
Norovirus affects around 21 million people in the U.S. each year. It’s the main cause of gastroenteritis, a stomach illness. The virus attaches to cells in our intestines and then spreads easily from person to person.
Norovirus is most often spread through food, and can make up to 60 percent of all foodborne illnesses. It’s passed on in two main ways: person to person contact, or eating food or drinking water that has the virus. Infected people can spread the virus even beyond two weeks from when they feel sick.
Symptoms of Norovirus appear quickly, usually within a day or two after you come into contact with the virus. People may throw up, have diarrhea, stomach pain and sometimes fever. The sickness usually goes away after two or three days, but it can be serious for children, old people and those with weak immune systems.
To find out if someone has Norovirus, doctors look at their symptoms and take a test if needed. When Norovirus is already spreading in a place, health officials may also test the sick people.
There are no specific treatments for Norovirus. Sick people mainly need to replace lost fluids and minerals. Hand washing is the best way to avoid getting sick. Finally, you should be careful when eating shellfish, as they can carry the Norovirus.
