Norovirus: What to know about the ‘extremely common’ bug as cases rise in Canada – National | 24CA News

The very contagious norovirus that’s recognized for inflicting irritation of the abdomen and intestines is rising throughout the nation — however it’s not unusual throughout this time of the yr, in accordance with the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).

The variety of instances of norovirus has been on the rise “both at the national level and within several provinces,” since January, PHAC confirmed to Global News in an electronic mail Wednesday. Infections have elevated in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, and New Brunswick in addition to Newfoundland and Labrador, the company stated.

The company famous that the variety of instances reported to the National Enteric Surveillance Program (NESP) since Jan. 1 “is generally comparable with the number of cases reported in the same seasonal period of previous years (i.e., 2015 – 2019).” The company makes use of completely different surveillance programs to watch outbreaks of norovirus, together with the NESP which oversees information for 14 completely different pathogens that trigger foodborne sickness.

While there isn’t any prescription treatment to deal with norovirus, in accordance with Health Canada’s web site, “most people begin to feel better on their own” inside two to a few days of an infection.

There are not any “long-term health effects. People can also get norovirus more than once,” the web site states.

0:40123 folks unwell after suspected norovirus outbreak at Calgary shawarma restaurant: AHS

According to Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious illnesses specialist at Toronto General Hospital, many individuals expertise “pretty significant nausea and vomiting” post-infection, “but then people tend to recover over the next couple of days.”

Some signs of norovirus embody diarrhea, abdomen ache, and cramps. Some may additionally expertise chills, fatigue, headache, muscle aches and even low-grade fever, Health Canada states on its web site.

“It’s important to remember that norovirus, sadly, is extremely common,” Bogoch informed Global News. “The real treatment for this is rest and keeping up with fluids and electrolytes.”

Norovirus spreads by sharing meals or utensils with an contaminated individual, in accordance with Health Canada’s web site. It may also unfold if one touches their mouth with out washing palms after touching a contaminated floor.

Eating contaminated meals or ingesting contaminated liquids can also be answerable for the unfold norovirus between folks, the web site states.

According to PHAC, about 4 million folks in Canada get sick yearly from the meals they eat. “Norovirus causes more than 1 million cases of non-travel related foodborne illness each year,” the company stated.

However, most individuals make “a full recovery,” from norovirus, stated Bogoch.

“We just have to watch for more vulnerable individuals, especially the youngest and the oldest who might not be able to keep up with their fluids and electrolytes,” the physician stated.

Cases of norovirus have been on the rise within the United States as properly. According the to the U.S. Centre for Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), from August 2022 to early January, 225 norovirus outbreaks had been reported by states collaborating in a federal surveillance program.

Norovirus can simply contaminate meals and water as a result of it solely takes a really small quantity of virus particles to make an individual sick, the U.S. CDC says on their web site.

“Food and water can get contaminated with norovirus in many ways,” the company states. Moreover, meals that “is grown or harvested with contaminated water, such as oysters harvested from contaminated water, or fruit and vegetables irrigated with contaminated water in the field,” can result in the unfold of norovirus.

Bogoch stated PHAC’s “surveillance for this is as good as it can be,” so the important thing issues for Canadians to observe with a view to curb unfold are hand sanitization and staying house after they really feel sick.

“Soap and water (are) the most appropriate way to wash your hands. Norovirus is pretty hardy. It can stick to surfaces and survive on surfaces rather easily,” cautioned Bogoch.

The norovirus is sort of proof against warmth and chilly, stated Bogoch and it could additionally stand up to alcohol. So, “the alcohol hand sanitizers don’t do as good a job as soap and water.”

Noroviruses can infect folks of all ages, in accordance with Bogoch and most outbreaks happen in clusters and in locations the place folks are available shut contact like faculties, cruise ships or hospitals.

0:31Concerned mother and father impressed college’s dealing with of potential norovius outbreak

But there are methods to guard oneself and different folks.

Health Canada says further precautions like cooking shellfish totally earlier than consuming, particularly oysters and clams, in addition to uncooked fruit and veggies, assist curb the virus from spreading. Other suggestions from the company embody cleansing and disinfecting surfaces “after an episode of illness” and instantly washing clothes and linens “that are soiled with vomit or diarrhea.”

According to PHAC, in the course of the top of the COVID-19 pandemic interval in 2020, folks had been carrying masks, hand sanitizing extra ceaselessly and working towards bodily distancing with others, which “significantly reduced” the unfold of pathogens just like the norovirus.

“Comparison of norovirus cases reported to date in 2023 against those reported during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic period (i.e., 2020 – 2022) should be carried out with caution,” stated PHAC, “as several factors associated with the pandemic resulted in significantly reduced reporting of enteric pathogens, including norovirus.”

Bogoch additionally identified that plenty of instances instances of norovirus go unreported as many don’t search take care of it.

“A lot of the time people that get this don’t need to seek care. They have a terrible bout of vomiting or sometimes diarrhea, and it gets better in a day or two,” stated Bogoch.