154 cases of Norovirus cases reported in England: Everything you need to know about the virus
Amidst the coronavirus pandemic, a highly contagious group of the virus, norovirus has been in the limelight. So far, around 154 cases of norovirus cases have been reported in England. As per the Central for Disease Control and Prevention, common symptoms of norovirus include diarrhoea, vomiting, nausea and stomach pain.
What is norovirus?
As per the CDC, norovirus is a group of highly contagious viruses that cause vomiting and diarrhoea. It is also called the winter vomiting bug. People infected with norovirus can shed billions of virus particles, but only a few of them can make people sick.
How can someone contract norovirus?
Norovirus can infect a person who consumed contaminated food or water or touched a contaminated surface and then put unwashed hands in the mouth. A person coming in direct contact with an infected person can also get infected. The virus spreads in the same way as human viruses enter the human body.
Can one catch norovirus infection multiple times?
As per CDC, there are different types of norovirus and a person gets infected with one type that does not provide him with immunity against the other types.
How can the spread of the infection be stopped?
Practising proper hand hygiene is one of the best ways to stop the spread of the virus. It's important to wash your hands after using the toilet, using contaminated surfaces, before eating, changing diapers or preparing food.
Treatment
As per experts, there is no specific medicine for norovirus. Though drinking plenty of fluids can help relieve symptoms by replacing fluid lost from diarrhoea and vomiting. This helps prevent dehydration.