Norwalk Virus
Minnesota is currently experiencing an unprecedented
wave of viral gastroenteritis caused by the Norwalk-like viruses.
During the six-week period that began on Nov. 1, the Minnesota
Department of Health (MDH) has received reports of 25 separate
outbreaks of Norwalk-like illness, involving as many as a thousand
or more people. Outbreaks have been reported in a variety of settings
this year, including restaurants, schools, hospitals, nursing
homes, catered events, private social gatherings, and work sites.
Some individual outbreaks have involved hundreds of people. Outbreaks
have also been reported in other states and Canadian provinces,
in addition to the highly publicized outbreaks that have occurred
on a number of commercial cruise ships.
The illness caused by Norwalk-like viruses usually
runs its course in a day or two, although it can last anywhere
from 12 hours to two and a half days. Symptoms can include nausea,
vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, headache, body aches, a general
run-down feeling, and a mild fever. Some people who develop the
illness may need to be hospitalized for dehydration.
Simple hand washing is the key to preventing the
spread of this illness. Washing hands - thoroughly and carefully
- after using the toilet, before consuming food, and before preparing
food for yourself or others would prevent a majority of the illness
caused by these viruses. Norwalk-like viruses are present in the
stool and vomit of infected people. They are spread primarily
through person-to-person contact, or contamination of food prepared
by a person with the illness. People can continue to spread it
for up to several days after they recover. They should refrain
from preparing food -commercially or for their own families -
for an additional 72 hours after they get well.
Because some of the symptoms are similar, people
with a Norwalk-like illness may tend to mistake it for the flu
(influenza). However, vomiting and diarrhea are not typical symptoms
of influenza. Influenza is a respiratory illness, characterized
by symptoms like high fever, sneezing, runny nose and sore throat,
and complications like pneumonia. Flu shots will not protect against
Norwalk and similar viruses.
For more related information, please visit CDC’s
websites at:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/submenus/sub_norwalk.htm
and
http://www.cdc.gov/handhygiene/
In addition, you may be interested in MDH’s latest version
of the gastroenteritis outbreak annual summary:
http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/dpc/ades/fvzd/summaries.htm
Local public health or the public can report suspected outbreaks
of Norwalk-like illness or other food-related illnesses to the
MDH Foodborne Illness Hotline at 1-877-FOOD ILL (366-3455). For
more information about Norwalk-like illness, people can call MDH
at (612) 676-5414 or 1-877-676-5414 during normal business hours,
8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
