Islamabad: Norovirus cases are spiking in the US, according to the German news network, DW.
They cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea — and spread fast.
Spike across US
As for now, norovirus is spiking across the United States this winter, according to data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The virus is a highly contagious virus that spreads via contaminated surfaces, food and water, and close contact with infected individuals. It is also known as the “vomiting bug”.
Historically, medics first discovered noroviruses in 1972 using an electron microscope. Since then, they have found a large variety of different noroviruses, several of which are contagious to humans.
Noroviruses are everywhere
Noroviruses can be found all over the world. They are responsible for roughly half of all non-bacterial cases of diarrhoea.
Children under five, as well as the weak and elderly, are most vulnerable. That is why epidemic waves of infections often hit child daycares or senior living facilities.
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There is a risk of infection anywhere that people are confined to a space over a long period of time.
Past Instances
At the Athletic World Championships in London, for example, there was an epidemic. And in 2012, there was a case in Germany where a medium-sized cruise ship had to be put under quarantine in Wiesbaden after 67 tourists fell ill, or roughly every second guest.
A norovirus outbreak left hundreds of people hospitalised in an Italian village in 2024.
Spread of virus
According to the DW report, noroviruses always develop inside the human body. They multiply in the gastrointestinal tract and get distributed by droplet and contact infection, via stool or vomit.
The smallest traces are sufficient to infect a healthy person: 10 to 100 virus particles are enough.
Touching a slightly soiled door handle after using the toilet and then eating something out of the hand may already get you seriously sick after an incubation time of only six to 50 hours.
Infection through food and water
A norovirus can hang around in a given environment for quite some time. That is one way it gets back, via the food chain, into the human stomach.
Fruits and vegetables can carry a virus if, for example, faeces were used as a fertiliser; or if the agricultural workers failed to wash their hands properly before picking and collecting the fruit.
Another culprit: shellfish from areas where untreated wastewater flows into rivers, lagoons or seas.
Finally, drinking water can also be a problem if freshwater pipes run in close proximity to wastewater pipes. If frequent water cuts occur and the pressure in the drinking water pipe drops, contaminated water may get in. The same can occur if a cesspool is located too close to a drinking water well.
How long is an infected person contagious?
The greatest danger for others is during the time that the sickness breaks out (diarrhea and vomiting) but also for up to two days after the symptoms have stopped entirely.
After that, the virus can still be excreted for another two weeks or more. During that time, anyone in contact with the infected individual should strictly follow the rules of good hygiene.
Dealing with the infection
There is not much doctors can do. If the patient has lost a lot of liquid, it may be necessary to give infusions, especially with small children and the elderly.
There is, however, no medication against noroviruses. Patients have to be isolated as best as possible to prevent contagions. And caretakers must take extra precautions.
No vaccine against the virus
No vaccine exists that protects against noroviruses. The only thing that helps is washing and disinfecting your hands or the door handles and other surfaces you come in contact with regularly. This includes keyboards, remote controls and toilets.
When caretakers are in contact with infected individuals they should wear rubber gloves, a surgical mask and a smock. Laundry should be washed hot.
As far as food is concerned, one should peel fruits and cook vegetables. And there is one more thing that certainly does not hurt: Try consuming lots of lemon juice.
While the final scientific proof is not there yet, there is at least good evidence to suggest that it helps!
