5 Ways To Avoid Norovirus This Season
Alarming news headlines about norovirus may make you worry for yourself and your loved ones. A virus that causes vomiting and diarrhea, norovirus is highly contagious.
There are many types of norovirus, meaning you can become infected multiple times throughout your life.
Protecting yourself is wise, as this infection can make you feel terrible. Here are some steps you can take to reduce the risk of getting or spreading norovirus:
1. Wash your hands.
It’s impossible to overstate the importance of handwashing. Even in healthcare settings, millions of patients become infected due to improper hand hygiene. Scrub for at least 20 seconds, singing “Happy Birthday” twice in your head while you lather. If you wear an Apple Watch or similar fitness device, you can use a hand-washing app as a reminder to scrub until you get in the habit.
2. Wash your food.
Contaminated food and drink can also spread norovirus, so scrub your fruits and vegetables before consuming them. Vinegar is often effective for killing germs on produce. Mix one-half cup of white distilled vinegar with one cup of water and swish the produce in this mixture for 2 to 3 minutes before rinsing with cool water for a minute.
3. Wash your dishes.
Most of today’s commercial dishwashers heat water to 145 degrees Fahrenheit or higher to kill germs effectively. When handwashing dishes, make the water as hot as possible, and wash and dry all surfaces thoroughly. Also, be sure to replace your dish sponge and towels. Some experts recommend doing so as often as once per week, as norovirus could otherwise proliferate on such surfaces, contaminating everything you wash.
4. Cook food thoroughly.
Food poisoning may be a popular excuse for getting out of an exam, but it’s no picnic. Avoid norovirus and other nasty germs that can affect your gut by cooking meats and seafood thoroughly. The magic number to remember is 145 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. You should always cook steaks and pork to this temperature, and poultry minimums are even higher. The one tricky area is shellfish — most quick steam techniques are insufficient to kill norovirus.
5. Stay clear of sick people.
If you know or suspect someone has norovirus, keep your distance. While norovirus isn’t typically airborne, it can become aerosolized if an infected person vomits, releasing tiny droplets into the air. Remember, the virus usually runs its course quickly, so encourage the infected person to isolate. Quarantining ailing little ones may prove impractical, but do your best and consider wearing PPE when comforting your child — if doing so won’t scare them.
Protect yourself with these norovirus prevention strategies.
Norovirus is a particularly nasty stomach bug. While it usually produces no long-term adverse health effects, it can be a miserable experience. Follow this advice to strengthen your defenses.