The terrible Norovirus meets Florida Hart. How to protect yourself.

If your spouse, neighbor, employee or children's teacher has the stomach error, pay attention. The highly contagious Norovirus is widespread in South Florida.

Norovirus tore this winter back and forth in the United States and reached early in some parts of the country, but was observed in South Florida in the past few weeks in South Florida. It depends on cramps, diarrhea, vomiting, fever, dizziness and fatigue, symptoms that occur in about 12 to 48 hours after exposure to virus particles. On average, one person with Norovirus infected two to seven more.

“It is a difficult disease that you have to deal with,” said Dr. Maria Garcia, an emergency doctor at Baptist Health South Florida.

Garcia sees first -hand what Florida sampling data confirms in the past 21 days: The Norovirus concentration levels through the state are high. The data of federal surveillance show only reported outbursts in Florida until the end of January. According to the centers for disease control and prevention (CDC), Florida, like most of the south, had a higher level than in previous years.

Among those who have caught the virus is Leslie O'Shea from Fort Lauderdale, who said she missed three working days last week due to the symptoms. She even slept on the bathroom floor, felt dazed and struggled to get up.

“This was the sickest that I have been for a long time,” she said.

Similar experiences fill social media contributions with photos of people in bed who explain: “I would not wish Norovirus my worst enemy” and “this virus is directly from the pits of hell”.

Experts say[P17]What has displaced a variety that has been around for decades. This year's hard wave of the virus could explain a lower population wave against this new tribe.

According to the CDC, this new tribe is connected to cruise outbursts in 2025.

In fact, the proximity of Südflorida to cruise ports can tighten the spread. According to the CDC shipping house, nine trips that have left or docked from Florida this year – led to outbreaks – seven were confirmed as Norovirus. Passengers that are exposed to Norovirus often have overnight stays in Florida and trips through local airports.

So what to do?

Medical experts want Floridians to know that hand disinfectants do not kill Norovirus. You have to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.

Norovirus is also difficult to kill on surfaces, where it can live for days for weeks. If someone vomits in your household in the bathroom, you have to clean every contaminated surface with a disinfectant (typically bleach). The virus can also spread through contaminated foods.

“The hand washing is the key after using the bathroom and before you prepare food,” said Dr. Indulekha Gopal, medical director of infectious diseases at Broward Health North. “The main path is one person to person and does not wash their hands properly.”

According to medical experts, you still need to know:

• It doesn't take much virus to make someone sick. Only a small particle is needed to pass on the infection.
• Doctors recommend that adults and children remain hydrated with pedialytes. “Pedialytes are less irritating in the stomach than gatorade and people tolerate it better,” said Gopal. “Make sure you drink it frequently.” Dehydration can lead to other symptoms such as dizziness.
• Zofran or Antinala medication may be necessary to contain the vomiting and loss of fluid and enable them to take a fever ducator. However, anti -diarrheal medication can be difficult, said Garcia of Baptist Health South Florida. “Some bacterial infections have similar symptoms, and anti -diarrheal medication are worsened. You have to discuss it with a health service provider, ”she said. “My recommendation is to avoid it.”
• You can't get Norovirus from someone who coughs or sneezed so that the masking does not help.
• The symptoms of the Norovirus usually last one to three days.
• You can still spread Norovirus for days after you have felt better. “If you had food a few weeks ago and Norovirus, you can still shed. So stick to strict hand hygiene protocols,” said Gopal.

Most people get better after a few days. But not everyone.

“If you are dizzy, weak and the vomiting gets out of control, you may have to look for medical help,” said Gopal. “Dehydration can be problematic for small children, the elderly and anyone who is immunogio.”

There is no antiviral treatment for Norovirus, and although there is currently no vaccine, the pharmaceutical manufacturer Moderna works on one. A Norovirus vaccine would require a well -founded presumption which tribes would probably circulate in a certain year, which is the same concept for the annual flu vaccine.

In addition, it is possible to get Norovirus more than once in a season, added Garcia.

“If there are several tribes, you may have the virus and have created an immunity against a trunk and someone is around you with a different burden and you will be infected again,” she said. “That's why it is so important to wash your hands.”