Genesee County Health Department
Better Life Through Better Health
Release Date: December 17, 2010
End Date: December 24, 2010
Contact Person: Fatema Mamou, Epidemiologist
Phone: (810) 768-7971
RE:
Viral
Gastroenteritis
Genesee County has been experiencing an increase in gastroenteritis cases.
The viruses that cause gastroenteritis, such as norovirus, can be easily
spread by food, person-to-person contact, or contaminated surfaces or
objects. The Genesee County Health Department would like to make sure that
everyone stays healthy this holiday season by giving the following
information.
Norovirus causes an illness which typically
includes nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramping. Symptoms may also
include low-grade fever, headache, fatigue and muscle aches. Symptoms last
about 1 to 2 days and, in most cases, ill persons get better on their own.
Sometimes people need to see a health care provider mainly due to
dehydration, with the very young and elderly at highest risk. Those with
severe diarrhea should drink lots of liquids.
Norovirus is very contagious and can be easily
spread from person-to-person, especially in group settings. People can
reduce their chance of getting infected by frequent hand washing using soap
and warm running water for a minimum of 20 seconds (alcohol based hand
sanitizers do NOT work against norovirus). Preventing contamination of food,
drinks, and surfaces are critical to prevent the spread of norovirus. Anyone
with norovirus must not prepare or serve food for others for 3 days after
symptoms have stopped. Spread of norovirus can also be reduced through prompt
disinfection of contaminated surfaces
with household chlorine bleach-based cleaners and prompt washing of soiled
articles of clothing. Since the
virus is passed in vomit and stool, children should not go to daycare or
school while they have diarrhea or vomiting. Persons who work in nursing
homes, take care of patients, or handle food should stay out of work until
at least 2 to 3 days after symptoms end.
Norovirus is known incorrectly as the “stomach
flu”. Norovirus is NOT related to the flu (influenza), which is a
respiratory illness caused by a different virus. Further information about
norovirus and environmental cleaning can be found at
www.gchd.us .
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