A lot of people suffer from food poisoning but not many are aware of what the threat of Norovirus really is. Interestingly Norovirus is the leading cause of gastroenteritis in human beings. The sickness shows itself with stomach flu like symptoms.
In some places, such as The USA, gastroenteritis is the second most common virus among human beings and is just as common as a cold.
But how exactly is this common virus spread? The virus usually spreads from faeces to the mouth, either by drinking contaminated food or water or by passing from person to person.
The virus is easily transmitted and is resistant to common disinfectants that make it difficult to get rid of. Normal hygiene and sanitary measures are usually not sufficient in overcoming Norovirus for this reason.
What to look out for:
The Norovirus usually incubates for a period of 24 to 48 hours. After this incubation period, symptoms begin to appear.
Once a person is infected, the symptoms normally lastbetween 24 to 60 hours and can be deadly, especially when complications such as dehydration and malnutrition.
As with all infections, the elderly and children are most at risk, as well as patients with weakened immune systems. Common symptoms include nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal pain, headache and a fever.
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