Today, China Agricultural University issued an “Emergency Notice”.
The notice stated that some students and staff in the West Campus suddenly felt unwell and had symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting. The school immediately organized an investigation and quarantined the patients in time. It was verified by the disease control department that it is a norovirus infection that is prone to occur in winter and spring. This is a highly contagious gastrointestinal infection spread by contact. Under the professional guidance of the government’s disease control department, the school has launched emergency plans, carried out epidemiological investigations, and fully disinfected disease-related places and public places.
The notice states that teachers, students and employees are requested to strictly follow the norovirus infection prevention and control requirements, pay attention to personal hygiene, wear masks, wash hands frequently, do not gather, and minimize the chance of exposure to the virus. If you feel unwell, diarrhea, vomiting and other symptoms, please go to the school hospital for examination and treatment in time.
Norovirus infections can occur throughout the year
Mainly in kindergartens and schools
How does norovirus acute gastroenteritis spread?
What are the clinical manifestations of infection?
How to prevent it?
Interpretation of Beijing CDC
01
Is norovirus acute gastroenteritis serious?
How is it treated?
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Norovirus infection in humans can lead to acute gastroenteritis, usually 12-48 hours after ingestion of the virus, The main symptoms are vomiting and diarrhea, Followed by nausea, abdominal pain, headache, fever, chills and so on. Norovirus infection differs between adults and children, vomiting in children and diarrhea in adults.
Norovirus acute gastroenteritis is a self-limiting disease with mild symptoms, usually lasting 2-3 days, with a good prognosis, but the elderly, infant Young children and those with underlying medical conditions are at higher risk for serious complications. At present, there is no specific drug for norovirus acute gastroenteritis, and antibiotics are not required. The mainstay is fluid rehydration and symptomatic treatment. If the symptoms of dehydration are severe, seek medical attention in time.
02
Can a person be infected with norovirus multiple times?
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There are many types of norovirus, and new mutants can appear in 2-3 years. Norovirus infection provides only short-term immune protection against the same type of virus (6-24 months), so people can be infected with norovirus many times in their lifetime.
03
How does norovirus spread?
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Norovirus is mainly transmitted by the fecal-oral route. The specific transmission methods are various: ingestion of contaminated food and water, contact with patient excrement or vomit, contact with contaminated hands, objects or utensils, contact with aerosols produced by vomiting, etc., can cause norovirus transmission.
Oysters and other bivalve molluscs can enrich norovirus in seawater and are a high-risk food. Outbreaks caused by foodborne transmission are mostly caused by norovirus-infected kitchen workers contaminating food.
04
How to prevent norovirus
Acute gastroenteritis?
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1. Practice good hygiene. Raw melons and fruits should be washed, oysters and other shellfish must be fully heated and cooked before eating, choose hygienic and qualified bottled water, and drink boiled water.
2. Good hand hygiene is the most effective way to prevent norovirus infection and spread. Wash your hands with soap and running water before meals, after using the toilet, and before processing food. Disinfecting paper towels and hand sanitizers are not a substitute for hand washing.
3. Norovirus acute gastroenteritis patients need to be isolated at home until 72 hours after symptoms disappear, the latent infection was isolated until 72 hours after the positive test. During the isolation period, avoid close contact with family members, use tableware and other daily necessities separately, and pay attention to the cleanliness and ventilation of the toilet.
Infected persons who are engaged in food processing and child service work such as food processors, nurses, kindergarten nurses, etc., the isolation measures are the same as those of ordinary cases, but they need to be 2 consecutive times (24 hours apart) Return to work after a negative stool test.
4. The feces, vomitus, polluted environment and objects of norovirus-infected persons should be disinfected with chlorine-containing disinfectants, and alcohol-based disinfection The disinfection effect of the agent is not good.
Personal protection should be used when handling contaminants to avoid direct contact with contaminants. When textiles (including clothes, towels, tablecloths, napkins, etc.) are contaminated with vomitus or feces, the solid dirt should be removed, and then soaked in a chlorine-containing disinfectant solution with a concentration of 500mg/L for 30 minutes before washing , can also be sterilized by steam or boiling for 30 minutes, avoiding the generation of aerosols.
Contaminated food should be discarded and food utensils can be sterilized by boiling for 30 minutes.
If someone vomits, stay away from the vomit immediately. After taking personal protection, prepare a chlorine-containing disinfectant with a concentration of 5000-10000mg/L, soak it with Disposable absorbent materials (such as gauze, rags, etc.) containing chlorine-containing disinfectant completely cover the contaminants, and carefully remove them.
Avoid contact with pollutants during the cleaning process, tools such as rags used in cleaning, and containers for holding pollutants must be with a concentration of 5000mg/ L-chlorine-containing disinfectant soaked for 30 minutes and then rinsed thoroughly before reuse.
Source || Beijing Daily