Norovirus cases are on the rise in Ireland as health experts say the bug is spreading like wildfire at the moment.
As Covid restrictions ease and people resume close contact in crowded spaces, health authorities have seen a tenfold increase in cases of norovirus.
There were 17 new cases of the stomach infection that were detected in the week up to March 26 and 137 in 2022 so far.
This marks a major increase from last year when just 14 cases had been reported up to this point.
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However, when Ireland was on Covid lockdown and schools were closed cases would have been a lot less due to increased hygiene and lack of interaction outside of your own household.
The six main symptoms to look out for are:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Feeling sick
- Aching arms and legs
- A high temperature
- A headache
How to reduce the spread of norovirus
According to the HSE, Norovirus spreads incredibly easily in public places such as hospitals, nursing homes, and schools.
You can catch it through:
- close contact with someone with norovirus. They may breathe out small particles containing the virus that you could inhale
- touching contaminated surfaces or objects. The virus can survive outside the body for several days
- eating contaminated food. This can happen if an infected person does not wash their hands before handling food
You are most infectious from when your symptoms start until 48 hours after they have passed. "You may also be infectious for a short time before and after this," the HSE says.
You can get norovirus more than once because it is always changing and so your body is unable to build up long-term resistance to it.
The following advice can help stop the virus from spreading:
- Stay off work or school until at least 48 hours after the symptoms have passed. You should also avoid visiting anyone in the hospital during this time
- Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and water. Do not rely on alcohol hand gels, as they do not kill the virus
- Disinfect any surfaces or objects that could be contaminated. It's best to use a bleach-based household cleaner
- Wash any items of clothing or bedding that could have become contaminated separately on a hot wash to ensure the virus is killed
- Don't share towels and flannels
- Avoid eating raw, unwashed produce
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