Dec. 20 -- If you are feeling sick with nausea, diarrhea and vomiting, you may call it the stomach flu, but what may really be ailing you is something called norovirus.
The flu is a respiratory illness that gets in lungs, and norovirus is a stomach illness, said Christopher Smith, environmental health supervisor with the Wilson County Health Department.
Smith warns that norovirus can occur any time of the year.
There have been three confirmed norovirus outbreaks that affected nine counties and 50 people, recently. Health department officials warn it is easy to catch and spread.
The most common symptoms include nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, and additional symptoms may include a low-grade fever, chills, headache, muscle aches and a general sense of tiredness, according to the Center for Disease Control Web site.
Children tend to experience more vomiting than adults.
The illness often begins suddenly, usually about 24 to 48 hours after ingestion of the virus, and the infected person may feel very sick.
For most people, it will go away in one to two days.
People infected are contagious from the moment they begin to feel ill to at least three days after recovery. Some people remain contagious for as long as two weeks after recovery.
Smith said that with so many people preparing food for the holiday season, he wants everyone to know they can make, serve and eat food safely, if they remember to take a few precautions.
"Always wash your hands thoroughly before preparing, serving or handling food," Smith said. "Rinsing the finger tips is not enough." Wash your hands in warm water and use soap. That's because with all of the folds and crevices in the hands, enough norovirus can still stay on the hands to make a person sick, if they are not washed thoroughly, Smith said. The virus is microscopic so it is not seen with the naked eye, said Smith, so your hands can look clean and still have the virus on it. "It only takes 100 particles of norovirus on hands to make a person sick," Smith said. "You don't need many at all." Smith said those 100 particles can be spread to food, door knobs, and light switches. Smith warns that even after washing hands properly, you can use the same door knob as someone who has norovirus and get the virus from the door knob. "The thing to do is to use a paper towel to open the door," said Smith. Smith said anyone who is sick with norovirus should not handle food in any way while they have symptoms and for at least three days after they recover from their illness. Terry Pierce, director of the Division of Environmental Health, suggests that those who employ caterers should make sure they are properly permitted or licensed.
One of the outbreaks that affected numerous counties has been linked to a caterer operating illegally from her home in the western Piedmont region. "If you plan to hire a caterer, you can call the health department where the caterer is located to see if they have been inspected for food handling safety," said Smith. In your own home Smith said that when cooking something like chicken, the disease will not live in the heat when cooked at a proper temperature. But something like lettuce and other salad items can keep the virus on it and infect lots of people. He warns washing items that are not cooked is a good way to kill norovirus. Smith also suggests getting a spray bottle with a tablespoon of bleach and filling the bottle with water as a good way to disinfect surface areas. "When you buy a disinfectant, you have to read the label to see if it kills norovirus or not," said Smith. "But bleach is cheap, and it works." Tips to Prevent the Spread of the Norovirus Frequently wash your hands, especially after toilet visits and changing diapers and before eating or preparing food.Carefully wash ready to eat foods, such as fruits and vegetables.Thoroughly clean and disinfect contaminated surfaces immediately after an episode of illness by using bleach-based household cleaner.After an episode of illness, immediately remove and wash, with hot water and soap, all clothing or linens that may be contaminated with the virus.
