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Norovirus is the main pathogen that causes acute gastroenteritis in crowded places such as schools and childcare institutions. It is highly contagious and can spread rapidly. The entire population is susceptible, and the immune protection duration after infection is short. It is particularly prevalent in winter.

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01 Transmission routes of Norovirus

Norovirus is mainly transmitted through the fecal-oral route, such as ingestion of contaminated food or water, contact with the patient's excrement or vomitus, or contact with contaminated hands, objects or utensils, as well as aerosols produced by vomitus or feces. It is particularly important to note that shellfish such as oysters can enrich norovirus in seawater and are high-risk foods.

02 Symptoms and treatment of norovirus infection

When people are infected with norovirus, they may develop acute gastroenteritis, with symptoms usually appearing within 12 to 48 hours. The most common symptoms are diarrhea and vomiting, followed by nausea, abdominal pain, headache, fever, chills, and muscle aches. Children are more likely to vomit than adults.

Norovirus acute gastroenteritis is a self-limiting disease with mild symptoms, usually lasting 2 to 3 days, and has a good prognosis. However, the elderly, young children, or patients with underlying diseases recover more slowly, and some cases may develop into severe cases. There is currently no vaccine to prevent Norovirus, and there is no specific medicine to use after infection. Rehydration and symptomatic treatment are the main treatments, but if dehydration is severe, you need to go to a medical institution for treatment.

03 How to prevent norovirus

To prevent norovirus infection, parents should first educate their children to develop the good habit of washing their hands carefully with soap before meals and after defecation. It should be noted that disinfected wipes and hand sanitizer cannot replace hand washing. At the same time, children should strengthen physical exercise, eat a balanced diet, and have a regular schedule to improve their body resistance.

In addition, children should be reminded that if a classmate vomits in the class, they must leave the scene quickly and orderly under the guidance of the teacher, and designated personnel should use chlorine-containing preparations to disinfect vomitus and contaminated places and objects while wearing protective equipment such as masks and gloves to reduce the possibility of infection with the norovirus.

Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention reminds that schools should formulate infectious disease prevention and control plans and emergency plans, and strictly implement morning and afternoon inspections, absentee registration, case tracking, and proof of resumption of classes. Sufficient and effective disinfection materials and personal protective materials should be equipped, and public places in the school such as classrooms, dormitories, canteens, toilets, and key areas such as door handles, stair handrails, sinks, toilets, elevator buttons, etc. should be cleaned and disinfected regularly.

At home, ventilation should be strengthened to maintain indoor air circulation, at least 2-3 times a day, each time for no less than 30 minutes. If vomiting, watery diarrhea, abdominal pain, etc. occur frequently, seek medical attention immediately. Contaminated surfaces, clothing, tablecloths, etc. should be disinfected with chlorine-containing disinfectants in a timely manner.

Peng Zhibin, a researcher at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, reminded: When processing food, raw and cooked food should be separated; vegetables and fruits should be thoroughly washed, and food should be cooked, especially shellfish and seafood; do not drink raw water. Patients with acute gastroenteritis caused by norovirus should try to avoid contact with others during the symptoms and within 2 to 3 days after the symptoms disappear. In the event of vomiting, people should be evacuated as soon as possible, ventilation should be done well, and the contaminated environment and objects should be disinfected in a standardized manner with chlorine-containing disinfectants.

Comprehensive sources: Xinhua News Agency, People's Daily Client, CCTV.com, etc.

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