Christina Applegate says she bought sapovirus after consuming a contaminated salad. This is what that’s — and find out how to keep away from it.

Christina Applegate is getting candid about her latest bout with sapovirus, an an infection that causes abdomen flu-like signs, on her podcast, MeSsy. In accordance with the Lifeless to Me star, the bug — which she suspects she contracted from a contaminated salad she ordered from a restaurant she’s been going to for 15 years — left her feeling “so dizzy.”

“I used to be so sick, I couldn’t eat, I couldn’t [do] something,” she shared within the newest episode of the podcast, by which she and co-host Jamie-Lynn Sigler open up about their experiences living with multiple sclerosis (MS). Applegate, who has spoken beforehand about carrying grownup diapers as a result of MS makes it troublesome to “get to the bathroom on time,” additionally revealed that she wakened in the midst of the evening after shedding management of her bowels as a result of virus.

After a stool check, the actress was identified with sapovirus. Right here’s what to know concerning the virus, and find out how to keep away from getting it.

🤢 What’s sapovirus?

Sapovirus impacts the digestive system and belongs to the same household of viruses as norovirus, Dr. Ekta Gupta, an affiliate professor of gastroenterology and hepatology at Johns Hopkins Medication, tells Yahoo Life, nevertheless it’s a lot much less widespread. About one in 15 People could have norovirus in a given 12 months, whereas sapovirus accounts for about 1% to 17% of diarrhea circumstances globally, in response to a research printed in 2017 in Current Opinion in Infectious Disease.

They each trigger signs together with abdomen cramps, nausea, diarrhea and vomiting, although vomiting might last more with sapovirus, a research printed within the Journal of Infectious Diseases suggests.

🥗 How do folks get sapovirus — and the way can I keep away from it?

“It spreads by the oral-fecal route,” Gupta says. “It may be unfold extra generally in kids and infants who should not cautious about hand hygiene, so it extra generally spreads in faculties and day cares.” However, she provides, folks may contract it after consuming one thing touched by an contaminated meals handler who didn’t wash their palms correctly. Or, as Applegate put it: “It’s whenever you ingest the fecal matter of another person, out of your meals. Another person’s poop went into my mouth and I ate it.”

Sapovirus has been linked to oysters, however any meals might be contaminated with it. Uncooked meals, together with fruits, greens and salads just like the one Applegate believes sickened her, usually tend to comprise germs, together with sapovirus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cautions.

Dr. Christine Lee, a Cleveland Clinic gastroenterologist, says that as a result of bivalves — mussels, oysters and scallops — are the commonest supply of sapovirus, being cautious about consuming these meals is one of the best step to take. She advises consuming these meals solely at respected eating places recognized for seafood, since that may imply the meals is much less more likely to be previous. However even that’s not foolproof, she says. “A virus can really reside within the water too, so, if you happen to occur to be washing oysters or scallops and a few of that water splashed onto your salad, you could possibly get it,” Lee tells Yahoo Life.

She provides that any such cross-contamination and contamination on account of a sick particular person dealing with meals are each widespread and onerous to detect. Checking for a clear lavatory and eating space can provide you some sense of hygiene requirements at a restaurant, however not the entire image, says Lee. She additionally recommends checking to see if the institution has been cited for meals security violations.

At residence, you possibly can take steps to forestall abdomen flu by all the time washing your palms and produce, holding your meals separated whereas getting ready them and ensuring your meals are correctly cooked or refrigerated, in response to the CDC.

👩‍🔬 Ought to I get examined and handled for sapovirus if I’ve signs?

Applegate came upon she had sapovirus after fecal testing. “Normally, folks don’t get examined for it until you’re immunocompromised, as a result of the signs might be extra debilitating,” says Gupta, who notes that signs “might last more for somebody who’s immunocompromised,” corresponding to Applegate.

“Any viral an infection may cause extra critical sickness, however [otherwise healthy] people don’t want to check, they simply have to maintain consideration on their hydration standing and ensure they’re not feeling dizzy or like they’re going to go out,” Gupta provides.

Like different widespread abdomen viruses, there is no such thing as a antiviral remedy for sapovirus, Gupta says, so one of the best factor to do typically is solely to relaxation, drink plenty of fluids and wait. In the event you do turn into dehydrated sufficient to really feel dizzy or lightheaded, she advises visiting an pressing care clinic to get some intravenous (IV) fluids.