(If you stumbled onto this blog because you want to learn about preventing the stomach flu, a.k.a. norovirus, a.k.a Norwalk virus then please stick around and read this)
Recently, I wrote a brief post about Wet Ones hand wipes posted here http://fearsandphobias.blogspot.com/2008/12/good-newswet-ones-brand-anti-bacterial.html and here http://writersblock15.wordpress.com/2008/12/15/great-newswet-ones-brand-anti-bacterial-kills-norovirus/.
Most of those who read my blog are fellow emetophobia sufferers. What surprised me though, was not only how many hits I had on that blog post, but where I found the link posted at. Normal, average, community web forums by non-emets who live in areas where norovirus is rampant. Frankly, I couldn’t be more thrilled to learn that so many normal people are researching the internet to find ways to prevent getting the stomach flu.
Let’s face it, if every single person took the same steps to prevent catching the norovirus as us emetophobes, there would be no more norovirus. I don’t expect this to ever happen but the more people who educate themselves and implement good hygiene and noro-prevention, the less epidemic it becomes, and one less worry for us.
So I’m dedicating this blog post to the public who are just as concerned about catching this bug as we are.
If you are one of those who found this blog googling key words, then I’d like to explain briefly that myself and most of my readers are emetophobic. Emetophobia is a god awful, terrifying fear of vomiting and while we have different degrees of this phobia, but all of us emetophobes are incredibly anxious this time of year because it’s prime season for norovirus. For more info on emetophobia either read my earlier blog entry’s or visit the International Emetophobia Society’s web page for a blow by blow description at www.emetophobia.org.
A Stomach Flu is caused by the Norovirus which is also known as Norwalk Virus
Norovirus is a highly contagious virus but with easy and inexpensive precautions, it can be prevented.
Norovirus is NOT airborne. It CANNOT be transmitted merely by standing next to someone who has it, sneezing, saliva, urine, or blood. The virus DOES exist in vomit and feces only and is spread when someone who is sick has virus particles on their hands because they did not wash them after using the toilet or after vomiting and then touches a surface. That surface then becomes contaminated.
It is unclear exactly how long the norovirus lives on surfaces but according to the CDC, the virus may still live in someone’s feces up to 2 weeks after the symptoms of norovirus have subsided which means, they can still spread it after they are feeling better and after they returned to work or school.
What’s the best way to prevent getting Norovirus?
Wash your hands with plain soap and water after using the bathroom and before eating meals or touching your face. Make sure you wash every nook and cranny of your hands for at least 20 seconds. Plain soap does not kill anything but it washes the germs off of your hands and down the drain. Yes, it’s that easy. Good personal hygiene.
Hand Sanitizers
Washing your hands is the best defense but if you’re traveling, at the gym, or soap and water are unavailable; hand sanitizers are the second best method of preventing norovirus. Before going out and stocking up on Purell or any other product that labels themselves as an anti-bacterial claiming to kill 99.99% of germs, listen up!
Most of these gels, wipes, sprays or foams have alcohol based ingredients such as triclosan, ethanol, or ethy alcohol. While these products will kill 99.99% of the bacterias, they DO NOT kill viruses, nor do they claim to. Other issues with these ingredients is that alcohol based products are drying and there are safety concerns about using triclosan.
Benzethonium Chloride and Benzalkonium Chloride kill norovirus
Products with either of the above active ingredients WILL kill norovirus in addition to all of the bacterias Purell claims to kill. You can also find these ingredients in household cleaning products such as Lysol. Wet Ones brand wipes have Benzethonium Chloride as the active ingredient and it’s widely available in most stores.
If someone in your household is sick, clean the bathroom with a disinfectant and any other place they may have spent a lot of time in and don’t forget the door knobs and light switches. Show them this blog and convince them to repeatedly wash their hands after doing their bathroom business so as not to spread to anyone else. Keep them home from work or school until they are feeling completely better, usually a couple of days. One of the main reasons norovirus spreads in offices is because those struck with it, don’t want to take the time off from their jobs.
IF EVERYONE WHO READS THIS BLOG POST SPREADS THE LINK TO THIS BLOG AROUND, THEN MAYBE LESS PEOPLE WILL BE SPREADING NOROVIRUS AROUND.
Other resources:
Norovirus Facts
http://emetophobiahelp.blogspot.com/2007/07/norovirus-facts-dont-be-afraid-get.html
My two blogs
http://fearsandphobias.blogspot.com
http://writersblock15.wordpress.com/
Many thanks for the various pieces of advice!
I got my first “stomach flu” in the late 70’s from my grandmother who was visiting for Christmas from the Red Cross home she stayed at.
Have had it a number of times since, but have been able to progressively reduce the symptoms period down now to 12 hours by flushing the buggers out with drinking a load of Evian water. Unlike other fluids it appears to be the only one that does not immediately come back up and that you can consume without wishing you had’nt!!
It really seems to work and makes simple sense and hope that I may save some of you a day to a day and half of unpleasantness.
Kind regards