Stomach virus spreads through Boston

United Press International ^ | Jan 07, 2003 | United Press International

[snippy_about_it]

BOSTON, Jan. 7 (UPI) -- A stomach virus blamed for sickening cruise ship passengers in recent months was reported Tuesday at near epidemic levels in the Boston area.

Health officials said many hospital emergency rooms in the region have been swamped with people complaining of severe symptoms of the Norwalk virus, a contagious microbe.

"We have about 700 cases" in the Boston area, said John Auerbach, executive director of the Boston Public Health Commission. It is almost at "an epidemic level," he said.

Health officials fear the illness is even more widespread in the general public because most individual cases are not reported.

The outbreak "seems more severe than any in the last five to 10 years," according to Dr. Stephen Kruskall of the Leonard Morse Hospital in Natick, Mass.

The virus, which is characterized by nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal cramps, typically lasts a day or two, but those could be "the worst 48 hours of their life," Auerbach told the Boston Globe.

Those stricken are advised to drink clear liquids.

Dr. Anita Barry of the Boston Public Health Commission said there has been a "pretty unusual" outbreak of the virus in area nursing homes and hospitals.

At least 17 separate outbreaks have been investigated, including at one nursing home where 186 people fell ill.

The virus is easily passed from person to person, such as through a handshake, but officials say the danger of infection could be reduced if people washed their hands after using the bathroom.

The virus got its name from the city of Norwalk, Ohio, where it was identified some three decades ago. While unpleasant, it rarely causes death or serious illness. The elderly or those already seriously ill are the most at risk, officials said.

[pbear8]

Ick, this sounds truly gross. Aside from frequent handwashing I'd wear a surgical mask when in crowded places(like Jacko). Please ask them to keep this on the East Coast.

[Yaelle]

But in those restrooms that only have the dryer (ARRRRGHHH!!), I use my elbow.

Or I use my sleeve, or part of my top / jacket.

[ElTianti]

Public Bathroom doors should really open out. That is,
while inside you have to push out.

[borkrules]

700 cases in a city the size of Boston constitutes an "epidemic"?

I need to revisit Websters on this. And re-calibrate my brain to account for future reports of "epidemics".

[mgc1122]

Buy some antiseptic hand wipes, stick some in your pocket to use when hand washing is not possible. Even better, buy a little bottle of the hand sanitizer for your office, home, and offer some to your kids classroom ...

[SamAdams76]

Actually you are more likely to get sick if you are obsessed with cleanliness. By being exposed to bacteria, you build up resistance to it and are less likely to get ill. Those that are always clean all the time are more susceptible when they are exposed.

Still, you should wash your hands at least once a day. Whether you think you need to or not.

[AnnaZ]

I always flush public toilets with my foot - there's no way I'm touching that handle!

 

...

Or I use my sleeve, or part of my top / jacket.

Exactly!

My mom made me paranoid about public restrooms when I was verrrrrry young. She told me if somebody had bad pimples I could get some just by touching whatever they touched, assuming correctly that pimples seemed scarier to me then than un-understandable microbes and STDs. And my children will be just as paranoid, too.

Then there's the "psycholooney-in-the-next-stall-awaiting" paranoia that currently consumes me. I swear, my sons will be in their teens and I'll still make them go to the restroom with me when daddy's not around.

:-/

[Chemist_Geek]

I'm curious if anybody has any theories on if our immune system is getting to be less and less effective over time due to various reasons and if this is another sign. We really don't seem as hardy as our ancestors.

What's known as the "hygiene hypothesis" postulates that by reducing our exposure to pathogens, we are not exercising our immune systems as much as humans years ago did, and as a result we're more likely to fall ill.

It makes sense... Avoid anti-bacterial soaps, tissues, and everythign else under the sun. Don't take antibiotics unless absolutely necessary. Let children play in the dirt and mud. etc.

[Barnacle]

Stomach flu is a misnomer. There is no such thing.

According to Mayo Clinic, flu or, influenza has the following symptoms: Fever and chills, sore throat, cough, muscle aches and pains, fatigue and weakness, and nasal congestion.

[TLBSHOW]

LOL

[Caliban]

YUP! I also do NOT use pens in public places...I always carry and use my own pen (nothing like seeing a pen or pencil that looks to have been chewed on by a moron), I also do not use other co-workers telephones, keyboards or calculators. I try to control contact with other's "stuff" as much as possible.

[duckman]

Ted 'pop an fresh' Kennedy.

[Prolix]

The very thought of Boston and Massachusetts make (sic) me wanna (sic) puke.

What is it about Boston and Massachusetts that makes you want to puke?

[Little Bill]

Send him to the Chinese take out on West Broadway and Lst in Southie, had to have started there.

[mykdsmom]

...flu or, influenza has the following symptoms: Fever and chills, sore throat, cough, muscle aches and pains, fatigue and weakness, and nasal congestion.

Yep...thats the kind I've had for 5 weeks now. I'm still coughing up a lung and now have a sinus infection secondary to it.

Isn't the cold winter weather supposed to kill out these bugs?

MKM

[Nov3]

I know of five here in Memphis. It is MAJOR NASTINESS. Our house looked like a scene from the movie "Outbreak".

Put my daughter in the hospital.

[VMI70]

Nope--they should be swinging doors.

[aimhigh]

OK folks, if you start to feel sick, you get a raw (yes, RAW) clove of garlic, and a full glass of water. Chomp it down. (keep that water close!) Garlic has been shown to inhibit baterial reproduction. It works.

[pepperdog]

Yeah on the Purell, also on opening the door with paper towels. I'm getting so good at hitting the remotely placed waste basket that I may take up basketball in my golden years.

I also use the paper towels to turn off the faucets after I've washed. I hate those air dryers and am going to start carrying paper towels in my purse. I really believe a lot of the spread is caused by poor hygiene practices.

Sure glad to hear that I'm not the only weirdo out there.

[GOP_1900AD]

Well, as for me, I follow the 5 second rule. If it falls on the floor and I can pick it up before 5 seconds has elapsed.... oh, sorry, hope you're not still eating lunch! ;) In all seriousness, I suspect I had a touch of this around the time the story of the cruise ship out of Seattle having it was kicking around. Not long after, I had good old Montezuma's revenge for about 2 days. Coincidence? Perhaps, but I suspect not. BTW - For all who were hoping this is limited to the East Coast, if I had it, then it is not! Belmont Mark (as in Belmont, CA, not Belmont, MA...)