Context
Recently, a highly contagious virus named Norovirus has been detected in Kerala’s Wayanad district. The state government has asked people to remain vigilant and stepped up measures to prevent the spread of the virus.
What is Norovirus?
- Norovirus is a bug similar to the diarrhoea-inducing rotavirus.
- It is a group of viruses that causes gastrointestinal illness.
- It is the most common pathogen implicated in outbreaks of gastrointestinal disease (inflammation of the stomach and intestines), according to the World Health Organization.
- It causes inflammation of the lining of the stomach and intestines, in addition to severe vomiting and diarrhoea.
- Norovirus is resistant to many disinfectants and can heat up to 60°C. Therefore, merely steaming food or chlorinating water does not kill the virus.
- The virus can also survive many common hand sanitisers.
Symptoms
- Initial symptoms of Norovirus are vomiting and/or diarrhoea, which shows up one or two days after exposure to the virus.
- Patients also feel nauseous, and suffer from abdominal pain, fever, headaches and body aches.
- In extreme cases, loss of fluids could lead to dehydration.
Spread
- 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.
- A person can be infected with different varieties of norovirus several times in their lives, but developing immunity to one type doesn't protect other varieties.
Treatment
- While there is no specific treatment available to cure the virus, generic medications for diarrhoea and vomiting can help cure the disease.
- 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.
