Kerala reports Norovirus: Causes, symptoms and precautions

In Kerala, at least two cases of Norovirus have been found among lower primary school students. On June 5, the Kerala government said that two children living near Thiruvananthapuram had been infected with norovirus, which spreads through contaminated water and food.

State’s health minister Veena George has warned that the sickness is very contagious and advised residents to practise good hygiene.

Health department officials said the infection, which causes vomiting, diarrhoea and fever like symptoms, was diagnosed after samples were tested at a government analytical lab. More samples have been sent for examination. So far, it is believed that students got food poisoning from mid-day meals distributed at the schools.

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Norovirus is spread through contaminated food, drink, and surfaces, causing vomiting, diarrhoea, headaches and body aches, according to the health department. Loss of fluids can occur in extreme situations, which can lead to dehydration, it warned, encouraging people to take precautions such as constantly washing their hands with soap after using the restroom.

What is norovirus?

Norovirus, also known as ‘stomach flu’, is a highly contagious virus that can be transmitted through contaminated food, water and surfaces. The primary route is oral-faecal.

It is similar to diarrhoea-inducing rotavirus and infects people across age groups. Disease outbreaks typically occur in closed spaces.

According to the WHO, emerging evidence suggests that “norovirus infection is associated with intestinal inflammation, malnutrition and may cause long-term morbidity”. It adds that an estimated 685 million cases of norovirus are seen annually, including 200 million cases amongst children under the age of five.

Norovirus symptoms

The initial symptoms are vomiting and/or diarrhoea, which show up one or two days after exposure to the virus. Patients also feel nauseous, and suffer from abdominal pain, fever, headaches and body aches. In extreme cases, loss of fluids could lead to dehydration.

Precautions to be taken

One may get infected multiple times as the virus has different strains. Norovirus is resistant to many disinfectants and can withstand heat up to 60°C. Therefore, merely steaming food or chlorinating water does not kill the virus. The virus can also survive many common hand sanitisers.

The most basic precaution is repeatedly washing hands with soap after using the lavatory and carefully washing hands before eating or preparing food. Fruits and vegetables should be rinsed well.

During outbreaks, surfaces must be disinfected with a solution of hypochlorite at 5,000 parts per million.

The US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention suggests that those infected should avoid contact with others and avoid preparing food for others while sick and for two days after symptoms end.

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Rest and hydration are the key

The disease is self-limiting. The infection, even though it takes a lot out of the patient, normally lasts only two or three days. Those who are not very young, very old, or malnourished can overcome the effects with sufficient rest and hydration.

It is important to maintain hydration in the acute phase. In extreme cases, patients have to be administered rehydration fluids intravenously.

No vaccines are available for the disease.