Norovirus Sociology

Initially the strain of the virus seemed no different than those of previous years but it quickly became apparent to health officials that this strain was unusual when it began to attack many young adults and healthy individuals. Additionally this

Norwalk virus is a spherical single-stranded RNA virus. This virus is alive and can stay on objects and surfaces and still infect people for days or weeks. It can survive some disinfectants which makes it even harder to get rid of. Anyone can get Norwalk virus. Each year, norovirus causes 56,000 to 71,000 hospitalizations and 570 to 800 deaths, mostly in young children and the elderly. This virus causes

Norovirus can be transmitted through fecally contaminated food and water or contact with an infected person. Shellfish, salads, and oysters are the foods most typically related to the

contributor to the disease’s spread. Some have linked the outbreak to the anti-vaccination movement – a

Because New York City is such a huge port of entry into this country, it was suggested that WNV came from a bird smuggled into the US from Africa or Asia. Since then, WNV has spread to 48 states, and to Canada and Mexico. Ever since the outbreak in New York till now there where 15,000 people in the U.S. that tested positive for WNV infection. The virus has probably spread to the east through the west by migrating birds that have the virus.

Transmission occurs either person-to-person or through contamination of food or water. CDC statistics show that food is the most common vehicle of transmission for noroviruses; of 232 outbreaks of norovirus between July 1997 and June 2000, 57% were food-borne, 16% were spread from person-to-person, and 3% were waterborne. When food is the vehicle of transmission, contamination occurs most often through a food handler improperly handling a food directly before it is eaten.

Norovirus is a highly contagious virus and being infected with one type of norovirus does not protect against infection from other types. The virus is usually spread by the fecal-oral route through contaminated food or water or person-to-person contact. It may also spread via contaminated surfaces

Norovirus and Salmonella are the two most common pathogens, resulting in the most hospitalizations and deaths. Norovirus is a pathogen that infects the stomach and intestines by causing inflammation. Symptoms of norovirus include; nausea/vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pain leading to dehydration causing one to urinate more frequently and feel dizzy while standing up. In order to avoid contracting the Norovirus, the CDC recommends thoroughly washing fruits, vegetables and cooking seafood to appropriate temperatures, which can survive up to 140 degrees Fahrenheit (https://www.cdc.gov/norovirus/preventing-infection.html). Salmonella affects the gastrointestinal tract when bacteria is swallowed, mainly coming from raw food products; eggs,

It is caused by a herpesvirus called the varicella-zoster virus (VZV). VZV is a part of the

Each year many people across the globe are effected by Norovirus, otherwise commonly known as a Norwalk-virus misdiagnoses as a gastric flu, stomach flu or the common viral gastro (Health, 2010). Norovirus is the most common type of gastroenteritis which causes the inflammation of the stomach and intestines (Ageing, 2014). The focus of this essay is to not only inform the audience on Norovirus but also focus on the principles of infection control within a nursing/aged care centre. The essay is also focused around a case study of Annabelle Mason who is 96 years old who has attracted the virus and is a resident in an aged care facility. The case study also involves another resident, Mrs Mary Biggs, who may also be affected by the virus.

This specific pandemic was described as

virus is a highly contagious virus causing inflammation to the wall of the column and stomach in the gastrointestinal tract. It is also known as acute gastroenteritis [1]. Norovirus is easily transmitted from person to person through simple exposures to the disease. These exposures are through a contaminated environment or contact with contaminated substances such as vomit, faecal, saliva, mucus and other bodily fluids. The virus is most easily spreadable through interacting in small areas where bodily fluids and aerosolized substances are most likely to be shared [2]. Sunrise Nursing Home has two elderly female residents showing symptoms of Norovirus. Mrs. Annabelle Mason is a 96 year old recently having abdominal pain and 3 episodes of diarrhea. Mrs. Mary Biggs also feels unwell and has abdominal pain.

The organism for Norovirus is Viral gastroenteritis. Which causes inflammation of the stomach and small intestines making you vomit and have diarrhea.

Some common problems with the identification process exist because the virus can be transmitted in various different methods, which include fecal-oral routes, person-to-person contact and aerosolized. When there is a sharp increase in a certain number of cases at a point, it is safe to postulate that this is the point source for the infection. In the case of the outbreak on the college campus in Michigan the point source was the ill food service workers, which caused the public health professional to postulate that the spread of the virus was indeed foodborne. The last college campus, which was located in Wisconsin, demonstrated how close living quarters could cause the virus to spread, suggesting that the primary mode of transmission was person to person

While not confirmed for every person, norovirus was confirmed to be the cause of the sickness in one of the cases, and the other cases being “probable.” The symptoms of norovirus include vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps. It causes the most cases of food-borne outbreaks each year.