Norovirus
About Norovirus
Norovirus is a very contagious virus that can infect anyone. You can get it from an infected person, contaminated food or water, or by touching contaminated surfaces. The virus causes your stomach intestines or both to get inflamed. Anyone can get infected with Noroviruses and can have the illness caused by Noroviruses multiple times in their lifetime.
Treatment
- There is no specific medicine to treat people with Norovirus illness. Norovirus infection cannot be treated with antibiotics because it is a viral (not a bacterial) infection.
- If you have an illness, you should drink plenty of liquids to replace fluid lost from throwing up and diarrhea. This will help prevent dehydration.
- Sports drinks and other drinks without caffeine or alcohol can help with mild dehydration.
- Dehydration can lead to serious problems. Severe dehydration may require hospitalization for treatment with fluids given through your vein (intravenous or IV fluids). If you think you or someone you are caring for is severely dehydrated, call the doctor.
Prevention
Prevention includes:
- Frequently washing hands, especially after using the toilet changing diapers, and before eating or preparing foods.
- Carefully washing fruits and vegetables, and cooking oysters before eating them.
- Thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting contaminated surfaces immediately after an episode of illness. Clean with soap and water and then disinfect with a bleach solution (2 Tablespoons of bleach per quart of water.) This solution should be made fresh daily.
- Immediately removing and washing clothing or linens that may be contaminated with viruses after an episode of illness.