NOROVIRUS

• Recently, two pupils in Kerala were found to have norovirus.
• A group of viruses known as norovirus causes gastrointestinal sickness. In addition to severe vomiting and diarrhoea, it also results in inflammation of the lining of the stomach and intestines.
• Norovirus outbreaks aren't usually dangerous, but if the right precautions aren't done, the virus can spread quickly. The typical infectious agent is tainted water or food. The faecal-oral pathway is how the virus spreads.

About norovirus:

• It is a category of viruses that causes digestive illnesses.
• In addition to severe vomiting and diarrhoea, it also results in inflammation of the lining of the stomach and intestines.
• The norovirus can reach temperatures of 60°C and is resistant to several disinfectants. Consequently, the virus is not destroyed by simply heating food or chlorinating water. The virus can also endure a number of widely used hand sanitizers.

Transmission:

• Different types of norovirus can infect a person multiple times throughout their lifetime, but establishing immunity to one kind does not give protection against other varieties.
• A healthy person can catch the virus from an infected person by eating contaminated food or touching contaminated surfaces.
• The virus can mostly be spread through oral feces.
• Symptoms of the norovirus often appear 12 to 48 hours after exposure. The majority of norovirus patients recover in 1 to 3 days.
• Many commonly used hand sanitizers and disinfectants are ineffective against norovirus. Additionally, it can withstand heat up to 60 degrees Celsius, so heating food or chlorinating water won't be enough to kill the virus.
• Although it is unrelated to the flu brought on by the influenza virus, the norovirus is also known as stomach flu or the stomach bug.
• All ages are susceptible to norovirus, although the young, old, and those with comorbid conditions are particularly at risk.
• The norovirus kills over 2 lakh individuals annually, including roughly 50000 kids.

Preventing and Treating Norovirus:

• By maintaining adequate hand hygiene and using other preventative measures, norovirus can be avoided.
• After using the restroom or changing a baby's diaper, wash your hands with soap and water.
• Cleaning your hands with soap and water before handling or preparing food.
• Washing produce thoroughly before using it.
• People who interact with animals need to use extra caution.
• Chlorinated water should be consumed by residents of places that frequently experience norovirus epidemics.
• Although there is no specific therapy for norovirus, symptoms like diarrhea and vomiting can be controlled with generic medications.
• To avoid dehydration, infected patients should drink plenty of warm water.

Are you aware?

• Other names for norovirus sickness include food poisoning, stomach flu, and "stomach bug." Food poisoning can be caused by noroviruses, as well as by other microbes and substances.
• Flu and norovirus infections are unrelated (influenza). Although they have some similarities, the flu is a respiratory condition brought on by the influenza virus.

Norovirus in India:

• In India, norovirus cases are less frequent than they are in many other countries.
• The infection has previously been documented, primarily from Southern India, and particularly from Kerala.

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