- The Norovirus infection has been reported in Pookode, Wayanad district in Kerala.
- Norovirus is one of the leading causes of viral gastroenteritis, which is also referred to as the “stomach flu”.
- The Kerala government has said that people need to be vigilant about the very contagious virus that causes vomiting and diarrhea.
At least 13 students of a veterinary college in Pookode in Kerala’s Wayanad district have been found infected with the Norovirus, as per a PTI report. The patients had tested positive for the infection two weeks ago. The state government has asked people to remain vigilant and stepped up measures to prevent the spread of the virus.
Norovirus, a small, spherical virus that causes food poisoning, is a bug similar to the diarrhoea-inducing rotavirus. It infects people across age groups and is transmitted through faecal matter or direct contact with the infected person, such as by food or eating utensils with them. The animal-borne disease has an oral-faecal transmission route. So beware of contaminated water, food and surfaces. The outbreaks have typically been known to occur aboard cruise ships, nursing homes, dormitories and other closed common spaces.
The infection causes inflammation of the lining of the stomach and intestines. A person usually develops symptoms 12 to 48 hours after being exposed to the virus. The initial symptoms include vomiting and/or diarrhoea, nausea, abdominal pain, fever, headaches and body aches. In extreme cases, loss of fluids could lead to dehydration.
Despite it being an animal-borne disease, there is relatively low evidence of animal-to-human transmission. According to the US-based National Center for Biotechnology Information, no animal norovirus have been detected in human stool to date. However, some serological evidence hints at possible transmission from animals to humans.
There is a high chance of a person getting infected multiple times as the virus has many different strains. It is resistant to most disinfectants and survives heat up to 60 degrees Celsius. So the common measures of steaming the food, or chlorinating water might not be enough. The virus is known to survive common hand sanitisers.
Since there are no vaccines available for the disease, precaution is your best bet. Wash your hands properly with soap after using the toilet or after changing diapers. Similarly, wash your hands meticulously before cooking and eating.
In case of an outbreak near you, disinfect the surfaces with a solution of hypochlorite at 5,000 parts per million (PPM). The norovirus, similar to the coronavirus, is diagnosed through a real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test. If someone tests positive, ensure maintaining hydration in the acute phase. In case of extreme dehydration, the patients have to be administered rehydration fluids intravenously.
Emerging reports suggest that this is the second Norovirus outbreak in Kerala this year. The 950 cases, possibly more, of acute diarrhoeal diseases reported from Alappuzha municipality and nearby panchayats in June this year were linked to the Norovirus.
The virus is not uncommon. It is the most common pathogen implicated in outbreaks of gastrointestinal disease (inflammation of the stomach and intestines), according to the World Health Organization. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one out of every five cases of acute gastroenteritis worldwide is caused by Norovirus. There are 685 million cases annually, of which 200 million are detected among children younger than five years. Nearly 50,000 children die every year due to diarrhoea caused by the virus. What makes the outbreaks scarier this time around is corresponding timing with the Covid-19 pandemic.
