By Morgan Roan
University of Georgia

A typically short-lived but intense stomach bug known as the
Norwalk virus or norovirus gastroenteritis has spread rapidly
throughout the University of Georgia and other campuses.

In hundreds of students, the virus has caused vomiting,
diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain and occasionally a headache
and low-grade fever. It’s spread mainly through person-to-
person contact.

“Affected people need to drink enough liquids to replace the
liquids they lose because of vomiting and diarrhea,” said
Elizabeth Andress, an Extension Service food safety specialist
with the University of Georgia College of Family and Consumer
Sciences.

“Otherwise,” she said, “they can become dehydrated and may need
special medical attention.”

How do you get it?

People can be infected a number of ways. Among them are eating
contaminated foods, touching contaminated surfaces and then
placing their hands in their mouth or having direct contact
with someone showing symptoms.

Norovirus usually incubates in 24 to 48 hours. But cases can
develop within 12 hours of exposure. Symptoms last two to three
days, generally without serious or long-term health effects.

Living so close to one another puts students at a higher risk
for transferring illnesses.

“People need to be diligent every day to avoid spreading
foodborne and other infectious diseases,” Andress said.

Be safe

You can do that, she said, by washing your hands often and
thoroughly. Disinfect contaminated surfaces, too, with
household, chlorine bleach-based cleaners. And don’t eat raw or
undercooked shellfish.

Norovirus is highly contagious and spreads easily. The Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention recommend washing hands
often, especially after toilet visits and changing diapers and
before eating or preparing food, as ways to prevent spreading
the virus.

(Morgan Roan is a student writer with the University of
Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.)