There is a norovirus outbreak. Here is tips on how to keep away from it — and what to do in case you catch it.

Norovirus, aka the “stomach flu,” is on the rise within the U.S. New data from the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention discovered that greater than 12% of tests for norovirus got here again constructive the week of Feb. 17 — up from from 11.5% the week earlier than. Specialists say that is a priority on condition that norovirus is extremely contagious. In line with the CDC, it causes greater than 19 million sicknesses, largely in younger youngsters, yearly within the nation, and results in 465,000 emergency division visits. Reducing your danger for getting norovirus is necessary, particularly if you’re in one of many weak populations for this sickness.

How are you going to forestall norovirus and what do you have to do in case you get it? Right here’s what specialists need you to know.

What’s norovirus? How is it completely different from the flu?

Dr. Nipunie Rajapakse, a pediatric infectious ailments doctor with the Mayo Clinic Children’s Center, tells Yahoo Life that norovirus is unrelated to influenza, regardless of its nickname. As an alternative, norovirus is “a kind of virus that causes gastroenteritis or ‘abdomen flu.’”

“Norovirus is often known as the cruise ship virus due to its frequent outbreaks on cruise ships and army bases — and it is circulating in all places,” Dr. Craig Wilen, affiliate professor in laboratory drugs and immunobiology on the Yale Faculty of Drugs, tells Yahoo Life. “We have now no medicine or vaccines for it, so it is a main public well being burden.”

Not like the flu, which regularly contains respiratory signs like a cough, gastroenteritis assaults your intestines, says Rajapakse, inflicting irritation. This causes signs similar to:

Nausea and vomiting are the 2 massive indicators that you’ve got norovirus, and these signs usually final one to 2 days. One of many dangers of those signs is dehydration, which is a priority if an individual is just not hydrating correctly or maintaining fluids down. That is significantly harmful for younger youngsters, the aged and people who are immunosuppressed, Wilen says.

You probably have norovirus, there’s usually no purpose to see a health care provider until you end up suffering from dehydration, indicators of which embrace going to the lavatory much less typically, dry mouth and dizziness in adults, in keeping with the CDC. “Fluids and electrolytes is what you want, in addition to making an attempt your finest to not unfold the sickness to family contacts, which is harder than one would possibly assume,” Wilen says. Over-the-counter antidiarrheal medicines may assist.

“We don’t have many instruments within the toolbox to keep away from unfold, sadly,” says Wilen, “however the excellent news is that almost all circumstances will clear up in a couple of days.”

How are you going to keep away from getting norovirus?

Norovirus is “largely unfold by way of the fecal-oral route,” Wilen explains. “Virus that’s both within the stool or within the vomit will both get on somebody’s arms or a meals product, after which get into the mouth or gastrointestinal tract of the recipient.”

Maintaining your arms clear is essential. Whereas spraying your arms with sanitizer could also be a go-to transfer for the reason that pandemic began, it’s not going to do much with regards to avoiding the norovirus, says Wilen. That’s as a result of “the virus is comparatively proof against ethanol-based cleaners, like hand sanitizer,” he says. As an alternative, washing your arms with cleaning soap and heat water, significantly after utilizing the lavatory or earlier than getting ready meals, is your finest transfer for avoiding transferring the virus out of your arms. You also needs to be certain to keep away from sharing any meals with somebody who could also be contaminated.

To be able to kill the virus on surfaces within the house, Wilen suggests utilizing bleach-based cleansing merchandise. Or you may make your personal utilizing a mix of 5-25 tablespoons of family bleach to 1 gallon water, per the Mayo Clinic.

Additionally in keeping with the Mayo Clinic, you may observe these tricks to keep away from spreading or catching norovirus:

• Wash arms with cleaning soap and water for not less than 20 seconds.

• Clear fruit and veggies earlier than consuming.

• Cook dinner meals completely. (Foodsafety.gov offers an inner meals temperature chart for cooking.)

• In the event you’re sick, keep house and keep away from others.

• Keep away from getting ready meals for others if you’re sick with vomiting/diarrhea.

• Disinfect surfaces and counters which may be contaminated.