
The best way to prevent the norovirus is by frequently washing your hands with soap and water. Photo by: CDC
Norovirus Fact Four: A Virus By Another Name
Remember the Norwalk virus? Wonder what happened to it? No, it wasn’t eradicated, it just changed names. The Norwalk virus and the Norovirus are one and the same. The Norwalk virus is named after Norwalk, Ohio where in 1968 an outbreak of the illness effected a school. Outbreaks of the same virus have occurred in cruise ships, schools, nursing homes, school, hospitals, and family gatherings – anywhere there are large gatherings of people.
Norovirus Fact Five: Disinfecting Wipes Can’t Kill Stomach Flu Virus
Those disinfecting wipes we’re all so fond of can kill the influenza virus but not the norovirus – even Lysol and Clorox disinfecting wipes do not kill the norovirus. Lysol Disinfectant Spray II and Clorox’s germicidal wipes will kill the norovirus, however. These products are generally not sold at grocery stores or places like Target or Walmart. You can purchase these stronger cleaners at office supply stores, Home Depot, Lowes, and online retailers.
Stomach Flu Going Around
The stomach flu hasn’t yet subsided this year, so find out what you can about it now, before someone in your family is infected. There isn’t much you can do to treat stomach flu once it hits, aside from staying hydrated and using comfort measures to soothe the norovirus stomach cramps, so avoid getting sick at all if you can.
Resources:
Baylor College of Medicine. Norovirus. Accessed April 14, 2013.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prevent the spread of norovirus. Updated January 28, 2013. Accessed April 14, 2013.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. MMWR:Emergence of New Norovirus Strain GII.4 Sydney — United States, 2012. January 25, 2013. Accessed April 14, 2013.
EurekAlert. Researchers developing antiviral drug to combat contagious norovirus. March 25, 2013. Accessed April 14, 2013.
Solvo Biotechnology. Glossary. Accessed April 14, 2013.
UPI. Pesticide water may spread norovirus. March 13, 2013. Accessed April 14, 2013.
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