Multiple Norovirus Cases Diagnosed at Baptist Health Emergency Room

JACKSONVILLE, Florida – You don’t hear about norovirus, a virus that affects the stomach, often, but according to a Baptist Health emergency room doctor, they’re seeing more and more cases.

Emergency room physician Victoria Helow told News4JAX that on Tuesday, she treated an entire family diagnosed with a severe case of norovirus. She also said that that evening, several children and adults with similar norovirus symptoms showed up at the emergency room.

Baptist Health Infectious Diseases Medical Director Dr. Shalika Katugaha told News4JAX that norovirus is commonly referred to as a stomach virus.

“It’s the most common cause of viral gastroenteritis, which is an inflammation of the stomach and large intestine,” Katugaha said, adding that norovirus is easy to catch and spread. “It spreads when you touch the feces or vomit of an infected person, which can be as simple as shaking hands, touching an elevator button that an infected person has pressed, or as simple as catching it from contaminated food.”

Katugaha said norovirus symptoms usually disappear within three days, but there are times when a person infected with the virus needs to seek emergency care.

“Symptoms that should prompt you to see a doctor, especially if it’s been more than a few days, are blood in your stool, severe stomach pain or signs of dehydration,” Katugaha said.

Although the prescription drug Zofran is used to help infected patients manage vomiting and nausea, there is no cure for norovirus, meaning the virus must run its course before it completely disappears from a person’s system.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, norovirus is the leading cause of vomiting, diarrhea, and foodborne illness in the United States. People of all ages can become infected and sick from the virus. The incubation period is 12 to 24 hours. The virus can survive on surfaces for several days.

According to the CDC, an infected person can shed billions of norovirus particles that can only be seen under a microscope. It only takes a few particles to make people sick.

To prevent the spread of norovirus, medical experts advise washing your hands thoroughly, as hand sanitizers are not effective against the virus. People who are sick are advised not to prepare, handle food, or care for others.

The CDC advises people to wash their hands:

• After going to the toilet or changing a baby’s diaper.

• Before eating, preparing or handling food.

• Before giving yourself or anyone else medication.

When handling or preparing food:

• Fruits and vegetables should be washed carefully.

• Oysters and other shellfish should be cooked thoroughly to an internal temperature above 145 degrees.

• Kitchen utensils, cutting boards and kitchen worktops should be cleaned and disinfected regularly, especially after handling shellfish.

• Raw oysters should be stored separately from ready-to-eat foods in the grocery cart.

Be aware that:

• Norovirus can survive temperatures up to 145 degrees

• A rapid steaming process may not heat food enough to kill norovirus.

• Food contaminated with norovirus will look, smell, and taste normal.

• Food suspected of having been exposed to norovirus should be discarded.

Regarding cleaning and disinfecting surfaces:

• Wear rubber gloves or disposable gloves and wipe down the entire surface.

• Use a bleach solution or an EPA-registered disinfectant known to kill norovirus on surfaces.

• Allow the bleach disinfectant to remain on the surface for at least five minutes before washing and wiping the surface dry.

• Clean the same area again with regular soap and warm water.

According to the National Institutes of Health, although there is no approved vaccine against norovirus, recent human clinical trials with vaccines based on virus-like particles have shown promise.

Encore Research Group, which controls the Jacksonville Center for Clinical Research, the St. Johns Center for Clinical Research and the Westside Center for Clinical Research, will soon begin a phase three trial of a norovirus vaccine. Phases one and two, on safety and effectiveness, have already been completed for adults. The vaccine trial will be conducted at the St. Johns and Westside clinical research centers. The vaccine that these centers are researching was developed by the pharmaceutical company Moderna.

Anyone interested in participating in the norovirus vaccine clinical trial can contact Encore Research Group at 904-730-0101 for more information about eligibility and the trial start date.