Posted on 02/09/2007 2:40:42 PM PST by Paved Paradise
"In addition to a list of imported diseases that includes tuberculosis, sickle cell anemia, hepatitis B, measles and the potentially deadly parasitic disease Chagas, officials fear what could happen if the avian flu, which is flourishing among poultry in Southeast Asia, mutates so that it is capable of human-to-human transmission through casual contact."
While I share your concern about the spread of infectious diseases not generally seen in the United States by illegal aliens, this virus is not to be blamed on that trend. The name "Norovirus" is actually a shortened version of Norwalk virus, which was interestingly named after the county in the United States in which the first outbreak of this disease was documented.
Also, and I realize that the quote above is from the article you cited, and not an original thought of your own, sickle cell anemia is not an infectious disease. It's a genetic disease found in individuals with African heritage. The author of the article should have done a little more research.
Now, that all aside...I wound up in the Emergency Department of my hospital with this strain of Norwalk virus earlier this week. It was undeniably the most awful GI illness I have ever had the displeasure of experiencing.
This should satisfy my posting quota for the next year or so. Back to lurking...
I know. I'm a big fan of handwashing and I do believe it helps immensely. Another tip is I do not, absolutely, do not, use public writing implements when at a doctor's office and they want you to sign in, or when I sign my receipt at the store. I carry my own. Once or twice I have forgotten or lost my pen and it was a huge production. I think these are notorious for spreading viruses, esp. during cold/flu season.
That's generally a bacteria or protozoan. Same effect, different cause.
During the flu season I wash so frequently that some think I am neurotic.
Who cares what they think? I don't catch the flu every year like most folks.
Also, if you are ill, handwashing prevents you from spreading the joy around.
Back in the early '60s we had "health" classes in elementary schools. Handwashing was taught and praised.
Nowadays they teach kids how to put on a condom one-handed.
Sheesh!
That's what he's referring to. Hygeine standards have not slipped at all.
Agree on the antibacterial element, but don't these hand sanitizers consist mostly of an alchol base? (NOT THE DRINKING KIND, although some have tried).
I know. It works. I am not neurotic or obsessive about it and during the summer months I ease up a little. It's just the simplest of things too. I also employ little things like using my elbow or arm to flip the lever on the drinking fountain or open doors. Doorknobs are the worst culprits.
During the flu season I wash so frequently that some think I am neurotic
One thing I learned not to touch was the inside door handles on public restrooms. Just grab your paper towel (from washing) and open the door with it and drop it in the garbage.
No flu for a few years actually.
If everyone followed all the good tips that good FReepers, like yourself, have put forward on this thread, most viruses would die of starvation.
You are right.
I was wrong -- except maybe about where the problem is coming from.
Yeah, like that'll work. I'm a nurse, and for years now people have been bringing their children and even small babies to the hospitals to visit. MRSA(very drug resistant strain of staph), and other nasty drug resistant bugs are turning up in random cultures all over communities. Visiting rules used to be enforced, some would say too strictly, now hospitals are all run on a PR platform with no regard to the community they serve. Any thing you want to do while visiting the hospital seems to be OK. I think that it's only a matter of time before some child crawls around on a germ-ridden hospital floor and puts its hand in its mouth and becomes very ill with some horrible, contagious disease. I often see groups of 5-10 people at a time come to the hospital to "visit." Often though, they don't seem to be there to visit the patient so much as visit with each other. Often their children are crawling around ignored by their parents, on nasty, germ ridden hospital floors. I can also recall family members bringing their children to the floor and leaving their children there for "grandma" to baby sit except that "grandma" was the patient! I will admit that social services got called in on that one. This was two small chidren actually, left with a very sick, frail older lady. I worked this last super bowl Sunday, and there was a patient with a whole room full of visitors who were very loud, yelling and cheering. An elderly patient came out of her room to complain about them being so noisy. Since she had complained, I went to the noisy bunch's room and explained that I had received a patient complaint about the noise and could they please keep the noise level down. Far from being contrite that they had disturbed a LOL much sicker than the patient they were visiting they said, "But it's the Super Bowl, man." They did quiet down some after making several rude remarks about the lady who had complained in a loud voice. As a nurse, I like to see my patients have visitors, I believe it is necessary to their well-being. I don't care if people stay all night, but for God's sake, why do so many people have to act like a Barbarian horde when they visit the hospital? Sigh, so many folks just weren't raised right. IMO, Jims wife.
I'm in Washington State too. My whole family has had it. I was lucky I didn't get the vomiting part, but I was out of it for 3 days. It's incredibly contagious. Someone just told me that a high school in Seattle closed after 300 out of 1000 students fell ill. I would really like to find out the name of the virus so I can find out more about it. It would be good to know how long people are contagious.
I think you meant to respond to Post 29 by Libkill.
BTW, I did some extensive research on MRSA, since I'm back in college to get into the health field (not nursing). A major harborer of lots of little nasties is the cell phone! Oh yeah. Gross, gross, gross. I could tell stories but suffice to say that a young woman who had just delivered her first child was killed by the doctor coming in and reconnecting the IV line into her lumbar area (she was receiving some kind of pain meds after the delivery I believe) and he had his cell phone in his hand. She was dead within 3 days. The bugs had direct access - cell phone - doctor - IV - entry point. Voila. I cried like a baby when I saw the story on Dateline.
Actually, I meant to reply to the first post, just a general comment. Sorry about that, it was meant to be a general rant, not directed at you. My bad, again, sorry:) That's horrible about the cell phone story, I hadn't heard about that.
Not sure where the disagreement came from, but I still think that thorough handwashing is a powerful cut-off from disease transmission.
"Hand washing is a powerful cut-off from disease transmission." I can't disagree with that.
Yeah, we got killed out here by this thing. At first I just had cold symptoms but last night is when I woke up to that most unpleasant surprise.
I think it was Blanchard that closed down but there might have been 2 schools closed for a day.
As for the handwashing thing, trust me, I use Lysol wipes, wash my hands regularly, wipe down contagious surfaces. It didn't matter. I got sick anyway. All you need is to touch a surface at the store or the gym and it's got you. At least with THIS particular virus. I am rarely ill and it had been many, MANY years since i had thrown up from non-alcohol related causes. lol
It's bad is all I know.
when we were kids we didn't have to run to the doctor for every bout of diarrhea....or sniffles.....now, we're all running to the doctor.....
however, if there is more viral illness around,maybe its because we eat out a lot more... it might be because we eat unhealthy food in unhealthy environs with God only knows fixing the food....among many people of questionable cleanliness....
what about stress?....kids from kindergarten on up are in too many activities and they are not getting their play time nor their sleep as they should....same can be said of adults.....
washing hands:...I am beginning to believe that our over use of disinfectant soaps instead of good old Ivory or such is actually weaking our resistance and making the viruses a little stronger...don't ask me about the pathophysiology of my opinion because I don't have a clue, its just a guess......
we have cell phones between staff in the hospital and I can tell you, they are never cleaned from person to person...well, I will clean mine now....
"In all, 33 schools have had absentee rates greater than 10 percent this week, ... Most absences were attributed to influenzalike illness, according to the health department.
...
In addition, widespread outbreaks of noroviruses (often referred to as stomach flu) are being reported in schools and nursing homes around the state, health officials said."
I was surprised that the article said that that the flu season appears no worse than normal. From what I have seen I wouldn't be surprised if this virus, whatever it is, spread to a large percentage of the population in a short time.
I always wonder how doctors and nurses avoid getting these things. Either they practice some sort of unusually rigorous sanitary practices, or they have just developed better immunity.
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