| Prelims Exam: General Studies Paper 1: Current Affairs |
Why in News:
Recently, more than 90 cases of stomach infection caused by norovirus have been reported in the United States. In India too, a few cases have been reported in Kerala.
About Norovirus:
- Norovirus is a highly contagious virus also known as the ‘winter vomiting bug’.
- It can spread through contaminated food, water and surfaces.
- Norovirus is similar to rotavirus which causes diarrhea and infects people of all age groups.
- Disease outbreaks commonly occur on cruise ships, nursing homes, hostels and other enclosed spaces.
- According to the World Health Organization, “norovirus infection is associated with intestinal inflammation and malnutrition that may lead to long-term morbidity”.
- An estimated 685 million cases of norovirus are reported annually, of which 200 million cases are in children under five years of age.
- According to the website of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, norovirus is the leading cause of foodborne illness in the United States, accounting for 58% of all foodborne illnesses in the country.
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Symptoms of Norovirus:
- The initial symptom of norovirus is diarrhea, which appears a day or two after exposure to the virus.
- Other symptoms include nausea, stomach pain, fever, headache, and body aches. In severe cases, lack of fluids can lead to dehydration.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Norovirus:
- Doctors say the disease resolves on its own. But the infection causes a lot of harm to the patient.
- In most cases, young people can recover with adequate rest and plenty of water intake.
- The disease is diagnosed by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. There is no vaccine available for this disease yet.
- Maintaining hydration is important in the acute phase of the disease. In severe cases, patients must be given rehydration fluids intravenously.
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