Norovirus is a highly contagious virus and it takes only a very small amount of virus particles to make one sick. When infected, people can experience symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, and fever. Usually, recovery occurs within one to two days, but longer lasting symptoms can cause dehydration and lead to severe illness.
Key Points
Prevent infection by knowing the routes of infection
・The routes of infection are “person to person”, “person to food to person”, and “food to person”.
・Virus is shed from stools even after recovery (about 1 week to 1 month).
Preventive measures
・Handwashing : Virus on the fingers can enter the mouth and cause infection after you touch doorknobs and switches used by an unspecified large number of people, or after you handle the vomit of an infected person.
・Health management : If you have symptoms such as diarrhea or vomiting, avoid preparing or handling food directly. It is possible to get infected by eating food prepared or handled by an infected person.
・Heat food and other items thoroughly (food and utensils at 85-90℃ for at least 90 seconds) : The virus can be transmitted by eating food contaminated with the norovirus, such as bivalve mollusks, without heating the food sufficiently.
・Disinfection with household chlorine bleach (sodium hypochlorite) : Effective for the disinfection of cooking utensils and areas where vomit or stools of an infected person have been deposited.
Key points: Frequent handwashing is important! It is especially important after returning home, after using the restroom, before and after cooking, and before meals.
Preparation: Keep your nails short, remove watches and rings.
- Wet your hands under running water, lather your hands with soap, and rub your palms.
- Rub the back of your hands (all the way down to the fingertips).
- Wash the underside of your nails.
- Wash between your fingers by meshing your fingers together.
- Twist and wash the thumb and the palm of each hand.
- Rub your wrists.
After handwashing: Dry your hands with clean paper towel, etc.
