The latest virus that saw a decline during COVID but a recent increase in cases is Norovirus.

This group of viruses cause symptoms that are commonly called stomach flu. Trends in USA and UK show a 66 percent increase this year, especially in those over 65 years of age.

The symptoms are abdominal pain, cramping, vomiting and diarrhea, sometimes accompanied by fever. This is spread through the fecal-oral route, meaning viruses in the stool are spread by inadequate hand washing to surfaces or food.

The three main ways it can spread are by direct contact, through food contamination from people with the virus touching the food, and by aerosolization (as in when someone vomits in a toilet and flushes it can become airborne, or if you cough or sneeze on someone).

Norovirus is the highest cause of food borne outbreaks globally.

The reason it is so difficult to prevent spread is that it can survive in the environment at freezing temperatures and heat up to 60 degrees Celsius.

The virus must be disinfected with alcohol. It is so virulent that a single particle has an infection probability of 50 percent.

On average, one infected person will infect 2-7 people.

This virus can spread before you have symptoms and for two weeks after symptoms resolve. Those in health care and child daycare are required to stay home from work for 48-72 hours after symptoms resolve.

Obviously, this poses quite a threat to nursing homes, schools, and cruise ships, where close contact is imperative. The very old and very young are the most likely to experience more severe symptoms and require hospitalization.

Typically, this virus is more prevalent in January and February, but as with many viruses, the pandemic interrupted normal patterns.

What complicates the development of effective treatment is that it has been difficult to grow and study and there are many types within the overall group of Norovirus that constantly mutate.

Active research is going on to develop a vaccine and antiviral medication but we are not there yet. The only good news in all of this is that the actual time of being sick usually does not last more than 24-48 hours and can be treated at home symptomatically with Pepto Bismol and hydration.

Extreme symptoms are less common and may require hospitalization, especially for those at extremes of age.

So, what does this all mean for you? How do you protect yourself and others?

• You must wash you hands vigorously with HOT water and soap, even under your nails for at least 30 seconds.
• Bleach-based wipes must be used. Lysol or alcohol hand sanitizers do NOT work.
• If you are infected, do not prepare food for others.
• Wash clothes and dishes on the longest, HOTTEST cycle.
• Your bed linens should be considered to be contaminated.
• Clean areas that you come in contact with such and door handles, faucets, phones, TV remotes, toilets, with bleach cleaner. Thoroughly clean around your toilet with bleach.
• If you have more than one bathroom, do not share with anyone else. Hopefully, this information can help you make good choices to keep yourself healthy!

Dr. Vicki Holmes is a Saskatoon retired family physician who has a special interest in Palliative Care and Women’s Health. She is passionate about sharing medical information with the public! (Vicki’s Photo: Memories by Mandy)

• Dr Vicki Holmes