The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that 19 million to 21 million are infected with the norovirus each year. This causes 1.7 million to 1.9 million outpatient visits and 400,000 emergency room drop-ins, the latter being mostly young children.
The CDC estimates severe cases cause 56,000-71,000 hospitalizations and roughly 570-800 deaths annually, with the expiring patients mostly children and elderly admissions.
The norovirus thrives year-round, but is most common during the winter months. It’s also constantly changing, and new strains of the virus appear and can double the rate of cases. The CDC estimate that people average about five norovirus infections in a lifetime, so be prepared.
The norovirus usually finds its way into the food chain through the touch of a person who has been in contact with vomit or other discharges from someone who already has the disease. It can be transmitted from there to food when handlers are infected. It can also exist on most produce and shellfish and can be found on surfaces like handrails, elevator buttons, desktops and chairs.
Preventing Norovirus
Although there’s no surefire way to avoid the virus, there are several things you can do to minimize your chances of contracting it.
1) WASH YOUR HANDS: Those signs in the restroom aren’t just for employees. Make sure you wash your hands frequently for 30 seconds or more with hot water and plenty of soap. You must be thorough because a quick rinse with a little bit of soap may miss spots. This is particularly important for those who prepare food or have just used the bathroom, two of the more likely spots that can harbor the virus. An alcohol hand sanitizer is also effective.