Vomiting Bug hits UK

**Canadian-guerilla** · 01-12-2008, 02:07 PM

The virus is easily transmitted by contact with an infected person,
by consuming contaminated food or water or by contact with contaminated surfaces or objects.

http://news.independent.co.uk/health/article3305774.ece

Vomiting bug 'hits three million'

International Flight Causes Health Scare At Pearson Airport

1 i hope this bug doesn't meet/mix with H5N1 ( Bird Flu )
2 it may only be one plane flight away

the thing that worries me here is
the time between general public spread
and nationwide public awareness

**Rick** · 01-12-2008, 02:11 PM

Norovirus is just another way to say stomach flue. From the CDC:

The symptoms of norovirus illness usually include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and some stomach cramping. Sometimes people additionally have a low-grade fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, and a general sense of tiredness. The illness often begins suddenly, and the infected person may feel very sick. In most people the illness is self-limiting with symptoms lasting for about 1 or 2 days. In general, children experience more vomiting than adults. Most people with norovirus illness have both of these symptoms.

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/revb/...rovirus-qa.htm

Not particularly pleasant but something all of us have had at one time or another.

**canid** · 01-12-2008, 05:30 PM

norwalk virus isn't just a stomache flu, it's a specific group of the most readily transmitted flu-like ilnesses known. symptoms usualy begin to improve within wo days but it is communicable for up to two weeks.

it may just be a nasty stomach bug but if you get it, it's hard not to give it to everybody you're regualrly exposed to.

how do i know this? a 3 year old once vommited all over my face and then my living room while i was getting her ready to go to the ER.

**Rick** · 01-12-2008, 06:58 PM

According to the CDC, there is a difference between the norovirus and the Norwalk virus. noroviruses are, however, considered Norwalk like. Highly transmittable. AdventureDoc are you still on?

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/revb/...rovirus-qa.htm

**canid** · 01-12-2008, 07:54 PM

i was under the impression that norwalk was a specific strain of norovirus. the one that hit several cruise ships. maybe i should look that back up so i don't have it wrong.

[edit: yep, according to wikipedia, norwalk is the first norovirus identified, described from Norwalk ohio, though i can't find any information on the specific norovirus involved in the carnival liberty and voyager of the seas or freedom of the seas outbreaks]

**Rick** · 01-12-2008, 09:29 PM

Hey, I don't know. I was just going by what the CDC said.

Several other names have been used for noroviruses, including:
* Norwalk-like viruses (NLVs)
* caliciviruses (because they belong to the virus family Caliciviridae)
* small round structured viruses.

Either way, my point was it isn't an H5N1 delima. Highly contagious, sure but we've probably all be infected with one at one or more times in our life. As that old saying goes, "This, too, shall pass".

**Smok** · 01-13-2008, 05:10 AM

I am just glade that we have you two on here and I not joking you guys are great thinks

**Rick** · 01-13-2008, 08:27 AM

Well, canid is. I just think I think.

**AdventureDoc** · 01-13-2008, 06:01 PM

Well discussed! I love the CDC site and it is one of my primary references. The norwalk virus was the gastrointestinal bad guy that got famous due to some outbreaks on the cruise ships. Most just a bad week with GI problems, diarrhea, vomiting, fevers, etc.

In addition to the CDC site, this one is pretty impressive for virology, too:
http://www.virology.net/