The Norovirus ‘Stomach Flu’ and How It Spreads

Health officials are warning about recent outbreaks of the Norovirus, which is commonly referred to as the stomach flu.  (It's not the flu at all, but I've given up telling people that.)  Diarrhea, vomiting, sometimes accompanied with a fever and body aches are the symptoms of the virus.  It's highly contagious and it's made its way through many families this winter already.

The norovirus is present in vomit and diarrhea.  It's not airborne, but if you inhale someone's "spray" it could get you sick.  This is absolutely disgusting, but this is how it happens.  You need to swallow the virus for it to make you sick.  That means someone's fecal or vomit matter gets into your mouth somehow.  I know!  Yuck!

Food poisoning in this case occurs when someone who is sick prepares your food.  They didn't wash their hands good enough, and some of the norovirus still on their hands from the last time they used the bathroom gets into the food.  It can sicken many people from one incident.  It recently happened at that Chipotle in Boston.  Unfortunately, there's really no way to prevent getting sick from this, besides never eating food that someone else prepared for you.

However, if someone you are in close contact is sick, you can prevent getting it.  The key?  Washing your hands.  I mean you cannot wash them enough!  Parents will know that kids are the worst, because their inability to reach the bathroom in time, and they make much more of a mess.   So make sure you keep your mouth closed, wash your hands after every time you help them, and disinfect surfaces.  Our toddler got the bug a few weeks ago and we stopped it from spreading with just handsoap and disinfectant wipes!

Hang in there, we'll get through this together!