County health departments in the state have issued advisories this month about the increase in people infected by the norovirus, a highly contagious illness that causes nausea, diarrhea and stomach cramps.
“According to the CDC, norovirus outbreaks are at a 10-year high, so it’s imperative that residents remain vigilant and take precaution to prevent getting sick,” county Commissioner Virginia Betteridge said.
The Camden County Department of Health and Human Services is urging residents to take precautions to prevent the spread of the virus, according to Betteridge. It spreads quickly, particularly in environments like workplaces where people share spaces and facilities.
“Norovirus is a very contagious virus that infects the stomach or intestines,” stated an advisory from the Burlington County Department of Health. “It is sometimes called the stomach flu or bug. Food poisoning can be caused by noroviruses, but other germs and chemicals can also cause food poisoning.”
The Gloucester County Department of Health also issued an advisory, explaining that “…while more common in fall and winter, infection can occur at any time of year.”
“Anyone can be infected with noroviruses and get sick,” warned the state health department. “You can get infected with norovirus more than once in your life. One reason for this is because there are different types of noroviruses, and being infected with one type does not always protect against infection from another.
“The illness begins suddenly and people with norovirus are contagious from the moment they begin to feel sick and for as long as two weeks after recovery,” the department added. “It’s estimated that each year, more than 20 million cases of gastroenteritis are caused by norovirus. That means that one in every 15 Americans will become ill from norovirus each year.”
Gloucester County health officials also offered advice on prevention.
“If someone in your household becomes sick, isolate them and avoid close contact, especially during vomiting, which can aerosolize the virus,” they recommended. “If caring for a child or someone who is ill, consider wearing gloves and a mask and wash hands frequently with soap and water.
“When cleaning high-touch surfaces such as door handles, railings, light switches, faucet and toilet handles, phones, and bathrooms, use a cleaner effective against noroviruses (such as Clorox wipes),” the health officials added. “Norovirus is resistant to alcohol-based hand sanitizers; handwashing with soap and water is the best protection.”
“Norovirus classically increases in the winter months for many reasons, but the major one is that everyone is congregating indoors, especially with the holidays,” noted a recent report by Dr. Scott Roberts, a Yale Medicine infectious diseases expert.
“Very few norovirus particles are needed to infect a person; other viruses need much more exposure.”
Norovirus outbreaks are most common between November and April, with as many as 20 million people sick from it each year. Its nickname is “the winter vomiting bug.” Norovirus also spreads differently than respiratory diseases like the flu and COVID.
“This is not a respiratory disease,” Roberts explained, “so you cannot transmit norovirus via coughing or sneezing, and masking and good ventilation won’t work for protection.”
The main means of virus transmission is exposure to contaminated food, water, or surfaces. The most important preventive strategies include heating food to sizzling temperatures, washing clothes in hot water and washing hands frequently.
For more information, contact the Burlington County Health Department at (609) 265-5548 or go to www.co.burlington.nj.us/health; the Camden County Health Department at (856) 549-0530; the Gloucester County Board of Health at (856) 218-4101; the CDC website at: http://www.cdc.gov/norovirus; or the New Jersey Department of Health at http://www.state.nj.us/health.
