FAQ: What is Norovirus? Here's What You Need To Know

In the midst of a COVID-19 resurgence in the UK, the country is seeing an outbreak of another virus called Norovirus. Over 150 cases of the virus have been reported in the country. Public Health England (PHE) has warned that they are seeing an increase of cases in educational settings, meaning it is impacting children more.

What is Norovirus?

Also called the vomiting bug, Norovirus is said to be highly infectious. Its main symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea and stomach ache. Anybody can fall sick and be infected by this virus. For many, they will remain asymptomatic, just like the Coronavirus .

The worry is that the virus has change its form so much that the testing kits cannot pick on its various variants.

People who have contacted symptomatic Norovirus have diarrhea and in some cases projectile vomiting as well. Just like COVID, it can stay on surfaces until someone picks it up and gets infected. The virus can spread very easily.

A person usually develops symptoms in 12 to 48 hours. Most people with the Norovirus get better within 1 to 3 days. Due to vomiting and diarrhea, people can get dehydrated very soon, especially young children and older people or people having other kinds of illness.

Symptoms of Norovirus

• Stomach ache

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

Other symptoms:

• Fever

• Head ache

• Body ache

What Precautions Can You Take?

• Practice proper hand hygiene after using a washroom, or while preparing food and giving someone medicines.

Wash fruits, vegetables and food thoroughly. Norovirus can survive in heat upto a temperature of 145°f, hence food contaminated with Norovirus should be immediately thrown out.

• Don’t prepare food for anyone else while in symptoms persist.

• Sanities all surfaces and use a disinfectant at all times.

• Wash clothes properly with detergent and hot water and then machine dry them at the highest heat setting.

• Do not give healthcare or medicine to anyone if you’re infected as they may get exposed to the virus.

While there is no specific treatment, Norovirus is treated symptomatically. Keep yourself hydrated and well rested.

(Written with inputs from cdc.gov and Live Mint.)