I have officially been indoctrinated into what this mild weather has to offer. By that, I mean that I was lucky enough to contract a Norovirus and for five days I was glued to the white porceline throne. After five days of not being able to eat or drink, I was so dehydrated that I had to make a visit to the ER for IV fluids. Noroviruses are very resistant to decontamination which is how they spread so fast. As with many viruses, once infected you become immune for life. Not so, with Noroviruses. There are so many different strains that one can get the illness over and over.
Noroviruses live in environments that ensure its spread such as hospitals, daycares, nursing homes and cruise ships. For most people, the illness is short-lived, lasting approximately 2-3 days. The illness begins as nausea and diarrhea with vomiting and can lead quickly to severe dehydration. It can be life-threatening to the young and the elderly.
Since we are in the middle of winter, many people make the trek to warmer climates which includes cruise ships and air lines. Due to the confinement, the virus can spread in epidemic form quickly.
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The best protection that one can take is persistent handwashing including after using the bathroom, before preparing foods and continuously throughout the day.
