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MCC Daily Tribune Archive

"Norovirus," "Food Poisoning," "Stomach Flu," You Name It ...Together Let's Prevent It!


You may have seen in the news that this virus is causing illness in our community and the US.

Noroviruses spread easily, causing 20 million gastroenteritis cases each year in the U.S.  There’s no vaccine to prevent norovirus infection and no drug to treat it.  You can get the norovirus more than once during your life. Norovirus is spread by eating or drinking food contaminated with the norovirus, touching surfaces contaminated with the virus and having direct contact with a person who is infected with norovirus.

Symptoms may include diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, stomach cramping, low grade fever, chills, headache, muscle aches and fatigue.  This virus is usually not serious.  Most people get better in 1-2 days, but may still be contagious for up to 48 hours after symptoms resolve.  This virus can be serious in young children, the elderly and people with other health concerns.  For more information on the norovirus check
https://www.cdc.gov/Features/Norovirus/

The best way to prevent the norovirus from spreading to you or others is to wash your hands carefully with soap and water.  Always wash your hands before, during and after preparing food, before eating, before and after caring for someone who is sick, after touching garbage, coughing, sneezing, or using the toilet.  You should scrub hands with soap and water for 20 seconds, then rinse well.  It takes about 20 seconds to hum the “Happy Birthday” song.  Wouldn’t it be nice to hear everyone humming the “Happy Birthday” song in the rest rooms?  If soap and water is not available use an alcohol based hand sanitizer to clean hands, but know that alcohol does not kill all germs.  For more information on hand washing check
https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing.

If you would like more information on norovirus or other health topics, contact or visit Health Services, Bldg 3-165.

Sue George, RN
Health Services
02/27/2012