As Covid-19 instances proceed to fall in the USA, instances of one other virus are rebounding to pre-pandemic ranges.
Outbreaks of norovirus, the bug accountable for the dreaded abdomen flu, have been on the rise since January, in line with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
From August 2021 by the start of final month, the CDC reported 448 norovirus outbreaks. Throughout the identical time interval the earlier yr, simply 78 have been reported.
Since early January, the variety of weekly outbreaks has risen from fewer than 10 to greater than 50. The information relies on experiences from state well being departments in Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
There is no knowledge to recommend that the norovirus outbreaks are in any method linked to the omicron variant of the coronavirus.
However it could be potential that the lifting of Covid restrictions helps the virus unfold. Norovirus, which causes vomiting and diarrhea, is very contagious and spreads from individual to individual by surfaces.
Dr. Robert Atmar, a professor of medication and infectious illnesses professional at Baylor School of Medication in Houston, mentioned he suspects the rise in outbreaks could also be a mirrored image of loosened Covid mitigation methods nationwide.
Masking, for instance, is not required in most areas of the nation. And whereas norovirus shouldn’t be unfold by respiratory droplets, the rise in instances may mirror a rest of an infection management usually.
Unfold of norovirus is very irksome, as a result of it’s potential to unfold billions of microscopic norovirus particles on surfaces and thru contaminated meals or water. It takes just some of these particles to make somebody sick.
“The focus of virus in stool samples is fairly excessive, so it doesn’t take a lot microscopic contamination to contaminate individuals,” Atmar mentioned.
Outbreaks are usually extra frequent in areas the place individuals congregate in shut quarters, similar to cruise ships or day care facilities.
The easiest way to keep away from norovirus is with good old school hand hygiene, he mentioned. That’s, washing your fingers vigorously with cleaning soap and water for about 20 seconds after utilizing the toilet and earlier than making ready meals.
Relating to cleansing surfaces, a diluted bleach answer is greatest for decontaminating affected areas, he added.
Comply with NBC HEALTH on Twitter & Facebook.