SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS RADIO) - In recent months, the U.S. and the Bay Area have seen a significant increase in norovirus cases, marking the highest outbreak levels in over a decade.
This highly contagious gastrointestinal illness is spreading rapidly, and many are left wondering how they can protect themselves and their loved ones.
"It is what people colloquially call the stomach flu. You might also hear the word winter vomiting disease or cruise ship disease. It all refers to the same thing, which is something that appears suddenly, sudden vomiting or diarrhea, and you get kind of flu-like symptoms as well," Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease physician at UCSF Health, told KCBS Radio's Patti Reising on this week's episode of "As Prescribed."
Recent wastewater analysis indicates that norovirus is circulating throughout the country and especially in the Bay Area. Dr. Chin-Hong explained that people have become more aware of the virus, leading to more diagnoses -- and with increased gatherings following the pandemic, the virus has spread more easily. Additionally, there's speculation that a new strain may be contributing to the rise in cases, though further evidence is still needed.
Many people confuse norovirus with food poisoning due to the similarity in symptoms -- vomiting and diarrhea. But what sets norovirus apart is its extreme contagiousness. It only takes a small amount of the virus to infect someone, making outbreaks easy to spread.
"With regular food poisoning, it's really in the food and it's out of you and you're done with it. With norovirus, you only need about 10 particles to get infected, as opposed to say thousands with salmonella," said Dr. Chin-Hong. "So within a household, you can have everybody get infected. Or if you're having a dinner party and one person has norovirus, it's likely that everybody else is going to have it as well. That's why in cruise ships, in dorms, in parties, they're really known for causing a lot of outbreaks."
The best way to prevent norovirus is by practicing good hygiene, particularly handwashing.
"Hand sanitizers don't work because norovirus is very, very hardy and it's not deactivated by alcohol. So you have to really use old fashioned soap and water, which kind of gets it out of your skin," said Dr. Chin-Hong. "Sing your happy birthday, sing your favorite Beyoncé song, whatever -- where you can wash your hands for a good amount of time, which is 20 seconds or so."
Another preventive measure is disinfecting surfaces with bleach-based cleaners -- regular wipes or solvents are not sufficient to kill the virus.
"It doesn't work in terms of wipes. You'd want to use something that contains bleach that might work, but not sort of regular solvents that people might have for wiping," Dr. Chin-Hong added.
Norovirus is highly contagious and remains so for several days. Dr. Chin-Hong advises that people who have had norovirus should avoid preparing food for others for at least two days after their symptoms have resolved. This is particularly important for those working in food service or preparing meals for vulnerable populations.
"It's contagious, really, for several days, but the peak period of time is about two to three days after you're done with the symptoms," he said. "So that's why for people who work in the food industry, if you're cooking for people at home, you know, our recommendations are not to prepare food for two days after you're done with all your symptoms."
For those who are sick, staying hydrated is key, especially for vulnerable groups like children and the elderly. Norovirus can cause severe dehydration, which can affect organs such as the heart and kidneys. Avoiding caffeine and alcohol, which can exacerbate dehydration, is also important during recovery.
As cases continue to rise, it's crucial for individuals to stay informed and take the necessary precautions to avoid infection, Dr. Chin-Hong added.
Listen to this week's "As Prescribed" to learn more. You can also listen to last week's episode about an innovative program building community for families facing pediatric heart conditions, here.
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“As Prescribed” is sponsored by UCSF.