Norwalk Virus

Norovirus, also known as the “Norwalk Virus”, is a highly contagious food-related illness that got its name when it was first discovered in Norwalk, Ohio in 1972

1. It is said to be frequently found in cruise ships, daycares and nursing homes that hold large amounts of people in close proximity
2. Causes of Norovirus include a cook or bartender serving food or drink without washing their hands properly, having direct or close contact with someone is infected (touching them and then touching the mouth or nose) and drinking an infected person’s water or using their utensils
3. The very first cause listed is something an individual may not be able to control, which is why norovirus is so common and contagious.The more ordinary symptoms of norovirus include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal cramps, but the more unlikely symptoms consist of headache, a fever, chills and muscle aches3.

A person exposed to this illness can expect to develop symptoms within 24 to 48 hours4, which may feel like a long amount of time, but isn’t as bad as other illnesses. More serious effects of Norovirus can include not getting enough nutrients and fluids in your system, which would lead to malnutrition and dehydration5.

There is no medicinal treatment for norovirus, but drinking lots of water and sticking to your regular eating schedule will help in avoiding these effects. The person will be contagious from the moment they are ill to at least 3 days after recovery4, so it is best not to touch them or be near them as much as possible as mentioned previously.Shellfish such as oysters and raw fruits and vegetables are the most likely sources if they have been contaminated by unclean water2.

Cruise ships serving large amounts of shellfish that wasn’t checked for contamination is guaranteed to get at least one passenger sick, which is why it’s better to be mindful of this and stick with the foods that you know are safe to eat. Untreateddrinking water is a major source as well that has been linked to norovirus2, so running water through a filter is essential when wanting to avoid norovirus.

Proper hygiene and safe food preparation is key when aiming to prevent norovirus. Wash hands with warm water and soap after going to the washroom, before and after preparing food, and changing a dirty diaper4. Constant hand washing will help insure that the bacteria from one object will not remain on your hands and transfer over to another area.

Keeping raw meat, poultry and seafood away from other items in your cart when shopping and having a separate grocery bag is very important in terms of making sure cross contamination doesn’t occur4.

A person can also prevent others from getting Norovirus by not going to work and avoiding travelling for the duration of their illness. Taking a few days off work will speed up the affected person’s recovery and not get anyone else ill at the same time.