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Newark, NJ -- The New Jersey State Department of Health and Senior Services has issued a health alert noting a statewide increase in patients with symptoms of an acute stomach ailment known as norovirus. Symptoms of the virus, including nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhea and, in some cases, dehydration, tend to last anywhere from a day to five days.
Noroviruses are a group of viruses that cause the “stomach flu,” or gastroenteritis. The illness often begins suddenly, and the infected person may feel very sick. In most people the illness is self-limiting with symptoms lasting for about 1 or 2 days. In general, children experience more vomiting than adults.
“The concern is that some people are unable to drink enough liquids to replace the liquids they lost because of vomiting and diarrhea, and they can become dehydrated,” says Jeremias Murillo, MD, Saint Barnabas Health Care System Vice President of Clinical Services and Pediatric Infectious Disease Medicine Specialist for Children’s Hospital of New Jersey at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center. “This problem is primarily seen among the very young, the elderly, and persons with weakened immune systems.”
Avoiding a Norovirus
The National Center for Infectious Diseases of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Newark Beth Israel Medical Center offer these suggestions for avoiding a norovirus:
- Frequently wash hands, especially after toilet visits and changing diapers and before eating or preparing food.
- Carefully wash fruits and vegetables, and steam oysters before eating them.
- Thoroughly clean and disinfect contaminated surfaces immediately after an episode of illness by using a bleach-based household cleaner.
- Immediately remove and wash clothing or linens that may be contaminated with virus after an episode of illness (use hot water and soap).
- Make sure that the toilet and surrounding area are kept clean.
People can become infected with the virus in several ways, including:
- Eating food or drinking liquids that are contaminated;
- Touching surfaces or objects contaminated with norovirus, and then placing their hand in their mouth;
- Having direct contact with another person who is infected and showing symptoms (for example, when caring for someone with illness, or sharing foods or eating utensils with someone who is ill).
People infected with norovirus are contagious from the moment they begin feeling ill to at least 3 days after recovery. Some people may be contagious for as long as 2 weeks after recovery.
Currently, there is no antiviral medication that works against norovirus and there is no vaccine to prevent infection. Norovirus infection cannot be treated with antibiotics. This is because antibiotics work to fight bacteria and not viruses.
For a referral to a Newark Beth Israel Medical Center physician, please call 1-888-SBHC-123.
Date: February 2, 2009
Contact: Beth Salamon
Public Relations
Phone: 973.322.4926
esalamon@barnabashealth.org
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