During outbreaks, public health laboratories can test stool specimens to identify the virus and confirm the cause of the outbreak. Learn. Seasonal stomach flu making its way around St. Louis area. In the years where this happens, cases can increase by 50%. "Wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands," Mazzulli said. A. Pawlowski is a TODAY health reporter focusing on health news and features. Although a person can get sick with a viral stomach bug due to contaminated food or water, the term food poisoning commonly refers to foodborne illnesses resulting from bacteria, parasites, or toxins that these organisms release when food goes bad. "Certainly use household bleach, wipe the surface down, leave it there for about five minutes and then you can wipe away the bleach. A directory of local health departments is located at, Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at. The main symptom of gastroenteritis is diarrhea, which may be accompanied by nausea and vomiting. If possible, a person should dry laundry in a machine on the highest heat setting. The infection is characterized by sudden onset of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramping. Juice and soda are usually not good choices because the sugar can cause more diarrhea and delay recovery. But the illness generally doesnt come just with gastrointestinal issues there are usually other symptoms such as a sore throat, stuffy nose or cough, Vinetz noted. The general advice is: If youre not better after a couple of days, go see a doctor, he noted. The stomach flu usually lasts for only a few days but symptoms can be highly unpleasant. pic.twitter.com/Deny6GLatD. Bogoch said the best way to keep your hands clean in a norovirus outbreak is by scrubbing with soap and water. Climate activists staged a 10th straight day of protests in Berlin, blocking key roads during rush hour and bringing parts of the German capital to a standstill on Friday. "Diarrhea can be a part of that but it is very frequently significant nausea and vomiting, and people will feel really unwell for about a day or two before symptoms start to abate.". Make sure you check the usage directions about food contact surfaces.". Understanding viral gastroenteritis. But, with the loss of fluids and electrolytes, eating and drinking is still crucial when fighting against GI illnesses. It is important to handle bleach with caution and care and to avoid ingesting it or touching it with bare skin. Stomach bugs are a leading cause of sickness and diarrhea in adults and children, especially in the winter months. According to the National Collaborating Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCCID), norovirus is highly contagious and has been the leading cause of acute gastroenteritis outbreaks around the world since 2002. headache. People sometimes call this illness stomach flu, but it is not related to the seasonal influenza that causes a respiratory illness every fall and winter. feel impossible, causing immense pain for days on end. How Viagra became a new 'tool' for young men, Ankylosing Spondylitis Pain: Fact or Fiction, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), https://www.cdc.gov/norovirus/trends-outbreaks/burden-US.html, https://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/foodborne-germs.html, https://www.cdc.gov/norovirus/about/prevention.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Ffeatures%2Fnorovirus%2Findex.html, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK518995/, https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/understanding-viral-gastroenteritis, https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/viral-gastroenteritis, New clues to slow aging? Prior to joining GH in 2019, Zee fostered a nutrition background as an editor at Cooking Light and is continually developing his grasp of holistic health through collaboration with leading academic experts and clinical care providers. All rights reserved. WebNo. More information on Norovirus from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, For non-emergency police calls, call 505-242-COPS. Stomach flu Drinking water and foods such as oysters, prawns and many fruits and vegetables can also easily become contaminated with norovirus due to exposure to sewage, according to the NCCID.