What is norovirus

You can also be infected through close contact with an infected person. Diarrhea, stomach pain and vomiting typically begin 12 to 48 hours after exposure. Norovirus symptoms usually last one to three days, and most people recover completely without treatment.

However, for some people — especially infants, older adults and people with underlying disease — vomiting and diarrhea can be severely dehydrating and require medical attention. Norovirus infection occurs most frequently in closed and crowded environments such as hospitals, nursing homes, child care centers, schools and cruise ships. Signs and symptoms usually begin 12 to 48 hours after exposure to norovirus and last one to three days.

You can continue to shed virus in your feces for up to two weeks after recovery. This shedding can last weeks to months if you have an underlying health condition. Some people with norovirus infection show no signs or symptoms.

However, they are still contagious and can spread the virus to others. Seek medical attention if you develop diarrhea that doesn't go away within several days. Some people may find it beneficial to take oral rehydration fluids. Dehydration can be sudden and, for some people, life threatening. People with dehydration who are not able to drink enough liquids may need to receive fluids intravenously.

After a norovirus infection, people have temporary immunity from further infection, although this usually only lasts for about 2—3 years. The Department of Health and Human Services suggest that the following are the most common causes of human norovirus infections:.

Authorities have also implicated liquid food items, such as salad dressing and cake icing, as outbreak causes. Sometimes, oysters from contaminated waters have taken the blame for widespread gastroenteritis outbreaks. Sewage contamination of wells and recreational water has also caused waterborne outbreaks of norovirus infection in community settings.

The best way to prevent the spread of foodborne noroviruses is to practice proper food handling. Good hand hygiene and food cleaning are important for preventing the transmission of norovirus.

Some people may even develop an infection after eating steamed shellfish. Noroviruses can also survive in up to 10 parts per million of chlorine , levels that are much higher than those available in current public water systems.

Despite these survival features, experts say that relatively simple personal and food hygiene measures can significantly reduce the foodborne transmission of noroviruses. Hospitals and other healthcare facilities also have a role to play in preventing transmission. They should focus on methods to limit the spread of the virus, such as isolating people with an infection.

In the vast majority of cases, a norovirus infection resolves itself within a few days and has no complications. Some people are unable to drink enough liquids to replace those that they lose through vomiting or diarrhea. Page last reviewed: 17 June Next review due: 17 June Norovirus vomiting bug.

Check if you have norovirus The main symptoms of norovirus are: feeling sick nausea diarrhoea being sick vomiting You may also have: a high temperature a headache aching arms and legs The symptoms start suddenly within 1 to 2 days of being infected.

How to treat norovirus yourself You can usually treat yourself or your child at home. You will usually start to feel better in 2 to 3 days. Find out how to treat diarrhoea and vomiting in children and adults School, nursery or work Stay off school or work until you have not been sick or had diarrhoea for at least 2 days.

The state government has asked people to remain vigilant, and stepped up measures to prevent the spread of the virus. Norovirus, which infects people across age groups, is a bug similar to the diarrhoea-inducing rotavirus. Disease outbreaks typically occur aboard cruise ships, in nursing homes, dormitories, and other closed spaces. Patients also feel nauseous, and suffer from abdominal pain, fever, headaches and bodyaches.

In extreme cases, loss of fluids could lead to dehydration. The disease is self-limiting — the infection, even though it takes a lot out of the patient, normally lasts only two or three days, and most individuals who are not very young, very old, or malnourished can ride it out with sufficient rest and hydration. Norovirus is highly contagious, and can be transmitted through contaminated food, water, and surfaces.

The primary route is oral-faecal. One may get infected multiple times as the virus has different strains.