Norovirus reaches epidemic levels

Times Online / The Sunday Times ^ | January 12, 2008 | Brendan Montague

[PureSolace]

The winter vomiting bug norovirus has struck 2.8million people, with health professionals braced for another rise as people return to schools and offices.

The virus - which causes projectile vomiting, diarrhoea, mild fevers and headaches - is striking down more than 200,000 a week, according to official estimates.

Three hospitals have been placed on red alert, while hundreds of wards up and down the country have been closed to new patients as the number of beds being taken up by bug victims reaches critical levels.

[PureSolace]

So you're in the know. Please pray for everyone involved, and that this passes quickly and that people are healed.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

I think I had that in December.

[Joya]

Amen. There was a thread a while back that folks taking Vitamin D are less susceptible to flu bugs.

[PennsylvaniaMom]

I am braced...my youngest just was off school Thursday and Friday. Fever, headache, lethargy, and vomiting. He was much better today (still looks pale to me and has not appetite to speak of). Have been cleaning bathrooms, kitchen counters, everything down w/clorox wipes...don’t want it to spread to anyone else.

[Joya]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/1929828/posts

Link to “Epidemic Influenza And Vitamin D”

[oldteen]

I had it in December also....no fun!

[Misterioso]

I had it in December, as well. Three days of misery. My guess is it came from a Carl’s Jr. Famous Star with contaminated lettuce from a food handler. Washing my hands didn’t help.

[Squeako]

I can’t say I had this, but it’s interesting. I hadn’t puked or even been sick in years, then came down with something and puked on New Year’s Eve (no, not from drinking). I figured the guy at Domino’s poisoned me...and that was a good pizza. :(

[b4its2late]

This same crap (no pun intended) has happened every year since I can remember. What the hell is the big deal? I guess without a pandemic, they need something to crow about.....

[hinckley buzzard]

Hospitals in Northeast Ohio are full. May or may not be the same strain but sounds similar.

[potlatch]

I’ve read that flu cases are 70% higher than this time last year in Houston. The hospitals and emergency rooms are full of flu cases in my city 3 hours west of Houston!

[Lexinom]

Is there a difference between “projectile vomiting” and “non-projectile vomiting”?

[MrEdd]

If it hits the wall across the room, it’s the former.

[Grizzled Bear]

More info here -

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1952369/posts

[steve86]

It does pass fairly quickly from the point of view of an unafflicted person, but it is beyond an eternity to the one suffering. Very vivid thoughts of “I wish I were dead” at least while you are coherent enough to put a sentence together. A trail of brown stuff as you crawl toward the bathroom... Anti-diarrheal medicine does nothing...And you don’t acquire resistance for the next episode.

[VeniVidiVici]

Figured a map would be good about now :-)

Flu map is too large to post.

[VeniVidiVici]

Figured a map would be good about now :-)

Flu map is too large to post.

[pepsionice]

I think we need a $40 million dollar research grant (via congress) to assess “projectile vomiting” and non-projectile vomiting”. As head of the team....I believe the best place to conduct such research...is Bali. Like the environmentalists....I believe two years in Bali...with cheap free booze....and we could wrap up a dandy report. I’m available and ready to fly...if you guys will fix up this grant for me.

[oprahstheantichrist]

Wow, I had no idea. Thanks!

[Lexinom]

Will the booze perhaps play a catalytic role in the research?

[tlj18]

I actually haven’t vomited in 17 years, come to think of it...

[snuffy smiff]

The projectle vomiting ain’t the problem-it’s the projectile diarrhea!

I had this stuff last weekend-it’s bad-I thought I had salmonella or some such. Until I found out a neighbor across the street had it a couple days before I got it then another neighbor up the street got it a couple days after I had it.

It’s nasty-I wouldn’t even wish it on the Crintons! I wound up having to go to the hospital. Then as I began to recuperate, my father came down with it!

[PureSolace]

Remember, this article is about the U.K. not the U.S. (Though I myself am just getting over the flu. :) ) Peace All.

[Redcloak]

The virus - which causes projectile vomiting...

Are they sure it's not just Hillary's campaign speeches?

[Right Wing Assault]

24 posts and no one has blamed global warming yet??

[sneakers]

"24 posts and no one has blamed global warming yet??"

Or George Bush!

[Coldwater Creek]

I got it and had not left the house for several days before.

This is definitely a airborne virus.

[RSmithOpt]

I vote for it to be allowed in the next Winter Olympics. Distance, grace or arc, amount delivered and the contestants ability to quickly complete 100 push-ups after each attempt. Should be easy to do in China’s polluted environment.

[mad_as_he$$]

One area people overlook is prepared food. More now than ever get their food form a grocery store deli counter - for example premade potato salad. I think these types of items are a contributor to the more rapid spread of these types of illness. That and the news spreads so much faster over the net than in the “old” days when you would not hear about this story on the TV news or probably even in your local newspaper.

[Ditter]

3 hours west of Houston? You are in San Antonio? It’s one of my favorite cities.

[LonePalm]

You keep track of such things?

Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)

[Malacoda]

Yep. It's definitely around her in SE PA. Both my six-year-old and my three-year-old were hit with this last Friday (the 4th). It was awful.

I've been fanatic about hand washing, and scrubbing everything with clorox clean-up.

[Scotsman will be Free]

Never heard of this particular virus. Why does it hit England so hard?

[Glenn]

It's definitely around her in SE PA.

Western PA as well. The entire family has been through it. I've escaped so far. Could be the antiseptic I've been consuming through the holidays.

[Pining_4_TX]

Why do I suspect that the epidemic in England is exacerbated by their crappy nationalized health care system?

[tlj18]

Hey, I was really sick that day in 2nd grade. It’s something I would remember :-)

[potlatch]

Should have said a bit ‘southwest’ Ditter.

I am in the largest ‘hub city’, every other larger city is 2 1/2 to 3 hours away in every direction.

My son lives in San Antonio. Many things to see there but a dangerous city for non hispanic young people at night!

[Ditter]

I am a mission FREAK. Every couple of years I make my husband go to SA and I spend the entire day in the missions. I visit them all while he sits in the car and reads. He’s a good boy!
If I lived in SA I’d go to mass there and I am not a Catholic. Then I would set up my easel and paint them but, as it is, I just walk around them and take pictures.

[potlatch]

You need to go to Goliad, there are two great Missions there. It’s south of me about 25 miles.

I used to oil paint and then made stained glass windows. Now I spend hours painting on graphics. You can paint your missions from the photos you take. Some good artists are in Goliad.

You have a very patient husband, lol.

[Ditter]

Yes I have been to Goliad, I love it too. I haven’t painted the missions from my photos, I guess I keep thinking I will actually go there and paint on location or someone will offer a workshop. I think I will suggest to Bill Bush at Fredricksburg Artist School about setting up a workshop at one of the missions (not the Alamo, too crowded).

Art workshops are wonderful for relaxation and getting away from it all.

[Right Wing Assault]

I was in SA back in 71-72 in the army at Ft. Sam Houston. We loved the river walk area. It looked so cool at night.

[litehaus]

Son, in London, says many out from his office there.....

[Ditter]

The Riverwalk has gotten even better with more restaurants and stuff since you were there. It is a great place to stroll except when it’s really crowded. I almost got shoved off (accidentally) into the river last time we were there.