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Cases of norovirus, also referred to as the stomach flu, are rising across the nation.
Specifically, in the northeastern U.S., positivity charges have hit 13.4% as of Feb. 17, as reported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Norovirus is very contagious, in accordance with the CDC. It could cause diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and stomach ache.
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The stomach bug might be unfold by contaminated meals or water, in addition to by contact with sick individuals and contaminated surfaces.
Fox News medical contributor Dr. Marc Siegel addressed the uptick in circumstances throughout a Monday look on “Fox & Friends.”
The NYU Langone doctor mentioned that whereas washing your fingers is an efficient prevention technique, norovirus can nonetheless unfold by meals.
“It gets in food, it gets in waste,” he mentioned.
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“People are touching each other’s hands, food handlers spread it. It’s spread indoors because everybody’s indoors [during] the winter.”
Siegel mentioned he requested Mandy Cohen, the CDC’s director, on Sunday if the company plans to check wastewater to look at virus unfold, and her reply was “no.”
“That surprised me because we’re starting to use wastewater analysis everywhere,” he mentioned.
“I think that that’s probably a good idea.”
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The “biggest problem” with norovirus, in accordance with Siegel, is that it causes dehydration attributable to signs like vomiting and diarrhea.
“The elderly end up in the hospital – 100,000 of them a year,” he mentioned.
“It’s the most common kind of stomach flu we have [and] this is the season for it.”
He added, “If you have these symptoms, it’s norovirus.”
To guarantee correct hydration, Siegel advisable taking “something with electrolytes,” similar to Gatorade or Pedialyte.
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“Drink plenty of it,” he mentioned. “That’s the key to the treatment. [There’s] no vaccine, no pill for it.”
There is no medicine out there to deal with individuals with norovirus sickness, the CDC acknowledged on its web site.
For extra Health articles, go to www.foxnews.com/well being.
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