Norovirus information

Norovirus is in the community. It is a virus that causes vomiting and diarrhoea, of which usually settles within 24-48 hours. It is very contagious and is spread easily.

Do not visit a hospital or rest home if you've been sick with a tummy bug.

Facts about Norovirus

1. Norovirus is a common viral infection. Norovirus was previously known as Norwalk-like virus, and the disease it causes has also been referred to as viral gastroenteritis, winter vomiting disease, and 24-hour tummy bug.
   
   
2. Norovirus only affects humans. It can be spread directly from person to person by hand-mouth spread (faecal-oral), or indirectly via droplet transmission and contact with contaminated surfaces.
   
   
3. Because the disease is highly infectious, norovirus often occurs in outbreaks.
   
   
4. Symptoms of norovirus can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, muscle aches, headache, tiredness, and mild fever. Symptoms usually develop within two days of exposure to the virus.
   
   
5. The disease is usually self-limiting, with symptoms resolving in 24-48 hours. However, young children and the elderly and people with other illnesses may be more severely affected.
   
   
6. People with norovirus are infectious while they are unwell and for several days after diarrhoea stops.
   
   
7. The best ways to prevent the spread of norovirus infection are:
   

• careful handwashing at all times after going the toilet, changing nappies and before preparing food
  
  
• if hands are not visibly dirty, alcohol hand gel is a useful alternative to clean hands
  
  
• keep sick people away from others. For norovirus, this means that a person who develops diarrhoea and/or vomiting should leave work or school immediately, and should avoid other people and avoid handling food until 48 hours after diarrhoea has resolved
  
  
• clean contaminated surfaces such as toilets, bathrooms and other hard surfaces a sick person may have touched, with a dilute bleach solution
  
  
• it is particularly important for people who have had diarrhoea and vomiting to stay away from places where there are large numbers of other people.  Infections can spread very quickly in institutions such as hospitals, rest homes, schools and hostels, or at any type of social gathering
  
  
• people with diarrhoea and vomiting should drink plenty of fluids, preferably in the form of an electrolyte replacement solution (available from your chemist). If diarrhoea or vomiting persists, or there is concern about a sick person’s condition, telephone your general practitioner or after hours service.
  

Infection Control Team
Waikato Hospital
June 2009