Health department warning residents of norovirus outbreaks in region - Petoskey News-Review

Officials with the Health Department of Northwest Michigan are warning residents of several norovirus outbreaks occurring in the area, and in conjunction are offering precautionary measures to keep summer dining experiences safe.

Noroviruses are a group of viruses that cause gastroenteritis in people. The most common way to become infected with norovirus — also known as the "stomach flu" — is through contact with an infected person or by ingesting contaminated food or water. Norovirus illness usually begins 24-28 hours after exposure, but can appear as early as 10 hours after exposure.

The illness is usually brief, with symptoms lasting only 1-2 days. Common symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramping, low-grade fever, chills, headache, muscle aches and a general sense of tiredness.

It should be noted a norovirus infection is not related to influenza (flu), which is a respiratory viral illness that can cause fever, cough, chills, headache, muscle aches, runny nose and sore throat.

"The flu is where you're in bed, aching for several days," said Dr. Joshua Meyerson, medical director for the Health Department of Northwest Michigan regarding a previous norovirus outbreak in 2019.  "Viral gastroenteritis, or the stomach flu, is more of a 24- to 48-hour virus. The flu vaccine will protect you from the respiratory flu, but it won't do anything for the stomach flu."

Noroviruses are very contagious and spread easily from person to person. The virus is found in the stool and vomit of infected people.

People can become infected in several way, including eating food or drinking liquids that are contaminated by infected food handlers, touching surfaces or objects contaminated with norovirus and then touching their mouth before hand washing, or having direct contact with another person who is infected and then touching their mouth before hand washing.

According to the Michigan Department of Community Health Communicable Disease Division, while norovirus disease is usually not serious, people may feel very sick, but have no long-term health effects from the illness.

"Sometimes people are unable to drink enough liquids to replace what they lose from vomiting and diarrhea, and they can become dehydrated and need to see a doctor," reads a statement regarding norovirus from the Michigan Department of Community Health Communicable Disease Division. "This problem usually occurs only among the very young, the elderly, and persons with weakened immune systems."

The health department said outbreaks also have occurred from eating undercooked oysters harvested from contaminated waters; cooking kills the virus. Drinking water contaminated by sewage can also be a source of illness.

In general, you can protect yourself and others from norovirus by washing your hands thoroughly with soap and water. 

You should also avoid preparing food for others, working in a day care center, health care facility or food service establishment if you have gastrointestinal symptoms including vomiting, diarrhea, nausea or a low-grade fever.

If those symptoms become severe, health experts recommend seeking medical attention.

The Michigan Department of Community Health Communicable Disease Division said people infected with norovirus are contagious from the moment they begin feeling ill to at least three days after recovery. Some people may be contagious for as long as two weeks after recovery.

"Therefore, good hand washing is important," a statement from the division read. "Persons infected with norovirus should not prepare food while they have symptoms and for three days after they recover. Infected people do not become long-term carriers of norovirus."

While there is no specific medication or vaccine for norovirus and cannot be treated with antibiotics, it is recommended drinking fluids such as juice or water can reduce people's chance of becoming dehydrated.

Sports drinks do not replace the nutrients and minerals lost during the illness, the Michigan Department of Community Health Communicable Disease Division noted.

For more information, visit www.nwhealth.org.

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