Health tips on norovirus enteritis

Norovirus enteritis can happen all year round, with a high incidence in winter and spring. Outbreaks mostly occur in places of gathering, such as schools, kindergartens and nurseries.

The most common symptoms of norovirus infection are diarrhea and vomiting. Other symptoms include nausea, stomachache, fever, headache and body aches. 

 

Both symptomatic and asymptomatic cases of norovirus infections can transmit the virus. Norovirus is mainly contracted by ingesting food or water contaminated by feces or vomit, exposure to patients' feces or vomit, or inhaling aerosol produced during vomiting.

 

At present, there are no specific antiviral medicines for people infected with norovirus. Most symptoms of norovirus infection are not serious, and infected people can drink some sugar brine or rehydration salt to supplement the water lost through vomiting and diarrhea. Most people infected with norovirus recover within two to three days. Infants and the elderly, especially those with basic diseases, should be treated in time if they have serious symptoms such as dehydration due to frequent vomiting or diarrhea.

 

1.Maintain hand hygiene. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and running water for at least 20 seconds. Disinfecting tissues and hand sanitizers cannot replace hand washing. 

2.Pay attention to food and water safety. Eat cooked food, wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly, and make sure oysters and other seafood are well cooked before eating. 

3.If you are infected with the virus, you need to quarantine yourself. People infected with norovirus should quarantine at home for three days after recovery. Try not to have close contact with other family members, and do not prepare or process food, or take care of the elderly or infants.

4.Clean and disinfect surfaces and maintain good ventilation. Surfaces contaminated by vomit or feces of infected patients should be cleaned and disinfected with chlorine-based or other disinfectants immediately, and contaminated clothes or bed sheets should be removed and cleaned immediately. 

 

1. Improve the management of food and water hygiene. Ensure water safety, provide safe drinking water, monitor damage and leaks in the drinking water pipeline network, and clean and sanitize the secondary water supply facilities. Make sure to thoroughly supervise raw ingredients and processing steps, separate cooked food from raw food, and make sure everything is well cooked.

 

2.Improve the health management of staff, including those working in child care and kitchens. They must stop working and get prompt medical attention if they have diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, or other symptoms connected to intestinal infectious diseases. When handling and preparing food, they should use masks and practice basic hand hygiene.