Essay On Norovirus
Food Borne Illness
In my findings of the virus known as Norovirus, it is also referred to as Gastroenteritis. The virus is caused by influenza. The Norovirus affects thousands of people every year according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The Norovirus is a member of a category known as Calcivirus family. The virus is made up of four groups. The Norovirus is the most important virus to human pathogens. According to scientist the Calcivirus is difficult to study due to their inability to grow in a cell culture system. Although the virus is not fatal it is serious.
According to the CDC people can become infected with this virus through various ways. The various ways through which the virus is spread are through contaminated food, touching …show more content…
contaminated surfaces and having direct contact with an infected person. The virus is also found in feces or vomit. The virus enters the body through the mucous membranes. It enters the body through the mouth and is not airborne. It is recommended to thoroughly wash your hands briskly for 15 seconds before and after eating, touching fixtures or using the restrooms. Unfortunately healthcare workers can be exposed to the virus and are expected to wear Personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect them from contacting the virus in known cases. It has been found that not everyone in contact with the virus will become infected. In the findings of the CDC, your system can build an immunity to some forms of the virus. Due to their being so many different types of the virus, people can become re-infected several times throughout their lifetimes.
When one becomes infected with the virus the symptoms usually develop within 12-48 hours. The symptoms of the virus include acute onset of vomiting, water like diarrhea with abdominal cramps and nausea. In some cases people may also suffer from a low grade fever, headaches and body aches. One of the more common complications from their symptoms would be dehydration.
There has not been a medicine or treatment found to cure the virus. Antibiotics cannot treat the virus due to it being a viral infection. The recommended treatment is to drink plenty of liquids, to replenish the lost fluids. This is very important to pay close attention to your fluid intake. If one does not replenish what has been depleted from the body you may require hospitalization, so that you can be treated intravenously. This process is supplying fluids into the body through your veins.
The first reported case of outbreaks, were in Norwalk, Ohio in 1968.
The Norovirus was named after the original Norwalk strain that caused an outbreak of gastroenteritis in a school. A more recent outbreak was reported in Kentucky, on February 6, 2012. There were multiple cases reported of diarrhea and vomiting amongst the players in a 7th grade basketball tournament. Local and state health officials worked together with the CDC to determine the extent of the outbreak and the cause. The coaches were asked if there were any known ill spectators or players. The school nurses helped epidemiology staff to conduct interviews.
There were reports that 3 people from 3 separate teams experienced an onset of illness before the tournament. Amongst those one vomited courtside in the gymnasium on the first night. The vomit was then cleaned up by attendees and janitorial staff. Stool specimens were requested from people with symptoms of the acute gastroenteritis (AGE) or Norovirus for testing. In their findings between players, attendees, and janitorial staff, there were 242 persons identified with AGE. There were another 196 ill persons reported on days 2 and 3.The
Norovirus
is a highly contagious pathogen. It can be contacted both directly and indirectly through infected people. It is important to report cases as soon as suspicion of the virus arises.
It is imperative that each of us educate ourselves and our families about viruses that can live on contaminated environmental surfaces. The need for education on personal hygiene and disinfection of surfaces are dyer in preventing the spread of this and other viruses. More companies are making products that kill germs even when proper hand washing isn’t available, such as waterless hand washes. These items can come in the form of liquid or towelettes. There are also pocket toilet seat covers and cleansing bacterial sprays that can be carried to prevent the spread of viruses. I use these things while I’m out to keep myself and others safe. I also use towelettes at grocery stores to clean the grocery basket handles. I clean my hands with disinfectants when I touch door knobs and handles. When my family and I are out, we do not touch faucets or touch bathroom handles with our bare hands, a paper towel is used to help manipulate the fixtures. This eliminates the transmission of other bacteria or viral contaminates. These simple steps can help to protect yourself and others free and safe from illnesses.
References
California Departmant of Health Services Division of Communicable disease Control. Recommendations for the Prevention and control of Viral gastroenteritis Outbreaks in California.(2006).
Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/id norovirusFS.html. Oct. 19, 2012
CDC. Updated Norovirus Outbreak Management and Disease Prevention guidelines. MMWR Retrived from http://cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6125a5.htm (2011). Oct.19,2012 No. RR-3
Becker, K., Moe C., Southwick, K. Transmission of Norovirus during football game. (2000). 99.1223-7.
Retrieved from http://cdc.gov/mmwrhtml. Oct 19, 2012.
In my findings of the virus known as Norovirus, it is also referred to as Gastroenteritis. The virus is caused by influenza. The Norovirus affects thousands of people every year according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The Norovirus is a member of a category known as Calcivirus family. The virus is made up of four groups. The Norovirus is the most important virus to human pathogens. According to scientist the Calcivirus is difficult to study due to their inability to grow in a cell culture system. Although the virus is not fatal it is serious.
According to the CDC people can become infected with this virus through various ways. The various ways through which the virus is spread are through contaminated food, touching …show more content…
contaminated surfaces and having direct contact with an infected person. The virus is also found in feces or vomit. The virus enters the body through the mucous membranes. It enters the body through the mouth and is not airborne. It is recommended to thoroughly wash your hands briskly for 15 seconds before and after eating, touching fixtures or using the restrooms. Unfortunately healthcare workers can be exposed to the virus and are expected to wear Personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect them from contacting the virus in known cases. It has been found that not everyone in contact with the virus will become infected. In the findings of the CDC, your system can build an immunity to some forms of the virus. Due to their being so many different types of the virus, people can become re-infected several times throughout their lifetimes.
When one becomes infected with the virus the symptoms usually develop within 12-48 hours. The symptoms of the virus include acute onset of vomiting, water like diarrhea with abdominal cramps and nausea. In some cases people may also suffer from a low grade fever, headaches and body aches. One of the more common complications from their symptoms would be dehydration.
There has not been a medicine or treatment found to cure the virus. Antibiotics cannot treat the virus due to it being a viral infection. The recommended treatment is to drink plenty of liquids, to replenish the lost fluids. This is very important to pay close attention to your fluid intake. If one does not replenish what has been depleted from the body you may require hospitalization, so that you can be treated intravenously. This process is supplying fluids into the body through your veins.
The first reported case of outbreaks, were in Norwalk, Ohio in 1968.
The Norovirus was named after the original Norwalk strain that caused an outbreak of gastroenteritis in a school. A more recent outbreak was reported in Kentucky, on February 6, 2012. There were multiple cases reported of diarrhea and vomiting amongst the players in a 7th grade basketball tournament. Local and state health officials worked together with the CDC to determine the extent of the outbreak and the cause. The coaches were asked if there were any known ill spectators or players. The school nurses helped epidemiology staff to conduct interviews.
There were reports that 3 people from 3 separate teams experienced an onset of illness before the tournament. Amongst those one vomited courtside in the gymnasium on the first night. The vomit was then cleaned up by attendees and janitorial staff. Stool specimens were requested from people with symptoms of the acute gastroenteritis (AGE) or Norovirus for testing. In their findings between players, attendees, and janitorial staff, there were 242 persons identified with AGE. There were another 196 ill persons reported on days 2 and 3.The
Norovirus
is a highly contagious pathogen. It can be contacted both directly and indirectly through infected people. It is important to report cases as soon as suspicion of the virus arises.
It is imperative that each of us educate ourselves and our families about viruses that can live on contaminated environmental surfaces. The need for education on personal hygiene and disinfection of surfaces are dyer in preventing the spread of this and other viruses. More companies are making products that kill germs even when proper hand washing isn’t available, such as waterless hand washes. These items can come in the form of liquid or towelettes. There are also pocket toilet seat covers and cleansing bacterial sprays that can be carried to prevent the spread of viruses. I use these things while I’m out to keep myself and others safe. I also use towelettes at grocery stores to clean the grocery basket handles. I clean my hands with disinfectants when I touch door knobs and handles. When my family and I are out, we do not touch faucets or touch bathroom handles with our bare hands, a paper towel is used to help manipulate the fixtures. This eliminates the transmission of other bacteria or viral contaminates. These simple steps can help to protect yourself and others free and safe from illnesses.
References
California Departmant of Health Services Division of Communicable disease Control. Recommendations for the Prevention and control of Viral gastroenteritis Outbreaks in California.(2006).
Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/id norovirusFS.html. Oct. 19, 2012
CDC. Updated Norovirus Outbreak Management and Disease Prevention guidelines. MMWR Retrived from http://cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6125a5.htm (2011). Oct.19,2012 No. RR-3
Becker, K., Moe C., Southwick, K. Transmission of Norovirus during football game. (2000). 99.1223-7.
Retrieved from http://cdc.gov/mmwrhtml. Oct 19, 2012.