Be Cautious, Norovirus Is entering Its Peak Season!

On the 8th, the National Health Commission held a press conference to discuss the relationship between seasonal changes and health. Guan Xuhua, Chief Physician at the Hubei Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, stated that norovirus begins to enter its prevalent period after September, with the typical norovirus infection season spanning from October to March of the following year.

Previously, the Shenyang Municipal Disease Control Bureau in Liaoning Province issued a notice: On August 31, the school hospital of Shenyang Normal University successively treated a number of students experiencing symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea. As of 5 p.m. on September 7, a total of 2,087 individuals with gastroenteritis symptoms had been reported.

Based on epidemiological investigations, combined with on-site inspections of the water supply system and laboratory test results, it was determined that this incident was a public health emergency caused by norovirus contamination in the self-supplied well reservoir of the school’s third residential area.

What are the characteristics of norovirus?

Norovirus, formerly known as Norwalk virus, belongs to the Caliciviridae family and is the primary pathogen causing acute gastroenteritis. Norovirus spreads through the fecal-oral route via various means, including person-to-person contact and consumption of food or water contaminated with the virus. Settings with crowded populations, such as schools and childcare facilities, are high-risk environments for norovirus outbreaks.

High Pathogenicity

It takes only a minimal amount of the virus to cause infection, with the lowest infectious dose being 18 virus particles. Once infected, an individual can excrete billions of virus particles.

Strong Survival Ability

Norovirus can survive within a temperature range of 0°C to 60°C. The virus can remain viable on surfaces for up to two weeks and in water for over two months. It is not inactivated by 75% alcohol or hand sanitizers.

Non-Selective Infectivity

Norovirus is universally susceptible to all populations, meaning people of all age groups can be infected.

What are the symptoms of norovirus infection?

The incubation period after norovirus infection is short, ranging from 12 hours to 72 hours, with symptoms typically appearing within two days. Possible symptoms include:

Vomiting, diarrhea, and other acute gastroenteritis symptoms. Children are more prone to vomiting, while adults often experience diarrhea.

Fever, chills, headache, and muscle aches.

Diarrhea may occur several to dozens of times a day, with loose, watery stools and no bloody discharge.

Norovirus infection is a self-limiting disease, and patients generally recover on their own within two to three days. However, medical attention should be sought immediately if dehydration occurs, such as:

Very little urine output in a day or unusually dark urine;

Dry, cracked lips and loss of skin elasticity;

No tears when crying (in children);

Dizziness, lightheadedness, or difficulty standing.

How to prevent norovirus infection?

To prevent norovirus infection, the following measures should be taken:

Wash hands frequently. Clean hands before meals, after using the toilet, before handling food, and after returning home. It is recommended to use soap or hand sanitizer and wash hands under running water for at least 20 seconds.

Ensure food and water safety. Avoid drinking untreated water, and thoroughly wash vegetables and fruits before consumption. When preparing food, keep raw and cooked foods separate to avoid cross-contamination. Ensure that food, especially shellfish, is thoroughly cooked. When dining out, choose restaurants with good sanitary conditions.

Maintain daily cleaning and ventilation of living spaces. Keep kitchen utensils clean and dispose of garbage promptly.

Disinfect properly. If a family member shows symptoms of gastroenteritis, handle vomit and excrement appropriately and thoroughly disinfect contaminated environments and surfaces with chlorine-based disinfectants. Frequently touched areas prone to virus contamination, such as doorknobs, toilet buttons, and bathrooms, should be disinfected regularly.

If infected, rest at home as much as possible and avoid close contact with others. Individuals in specific roles, such as chefs, childcare workers, and delivery personnel, should not work while ill.

The Norovirus Rapid Test System is a rapid chromatographic immunoassay for the qualitativedetection of Norovirus in human fecal specimens to aid in the diagnosis of Norovirus infection.