A warning from state health officials before getting together for the holiday season: be very careful with food prep if you are, or have been, sick.
Minnesota and many other states have dealt with a rise in bad cases of the stomach flu, or norovirus. And it's not pleasant. Minnesota state epidemiologist Amy Saupe says you can take steps to avoid spreading it.
"If you have been sick with vomiting or diarrhea, we don't want you to prepare any food for anyone if you can help it," says Saupe. "Especially if you've been sick in the last 3 days. Try not to prepare any food for anyone else, and similarly, try not to eat any food that's been prepared by someone who is sick with vomiting and diarrhea."
It sounds like common sense, but it's happening across the state. She adds to wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap, and the soap part is important.
"Hand sanitizers, most of them don't kill norovirus," Saupe explains. "It's a really hardy virus. It's kind of not bothered by hand sanitizers, so that's why soap and water are our friends here, and we want to do that 20 second hand washing."
Saupe says it usually lasts about a day or so, but it's miserable, and you don't want to wreck everyone holiday.
"We're having about twice the normal activity that we would expect for this time of year being reported to the Minnesota Department of Health," she said. "We always see more of it in the winter time,, but right now we're having a really bad year, so I know a lot of people have been having this in their families or among their friends. So that's, that's very common right now, unfortunately."
Wash your hands well
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the toilet or changing diapers, before eating, preparing, or handling food, and before giving yourself or someone else medicine.
Be aware
Hand sanitizer does not work well against norovirus. You can use hand sanitizers in addition to hand washing, but hand sanitizer is not a substitute for handwashing, which is best.
Get more information on norovirus and tips on stopping it from spreading here.