Norovirus Circulating Through Central Illinois
By: Rachel Havey
Updated: February 27, 2013
No doubt you probably know of someone who has been sick with a "stomach bug" this year and health officials say Norovirus is making rounds again. Norovirus causes vomitting and diarrhea and is very contagious. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say more than 80% of Norovirus outbreaks occur from November to April. Local health officials say the best way to avoid the illness is to wash your hands, wash fruits and veggies, but when you're sick, do not cook food for others, clean and disinfect contaminated surfaces and wash laundry thoroughly.
Infectious Disease Director Jean Bellisario says, "Winter season you will see norovirus people call it the stomach flu sometimes but it has nothing to do with influenza and the respiratory kind of illness.
It is just a virus that affects the GI tract basically you will see diarahhea and vomiting sometimes people are sick for a day to 3 days."
If you do have norovirus, drink plenty of liquids to prevent dehydration and if symptoms don't improve after a few days, call your primary doctor.
