Norovirus Outbreak Spares Alaskans Thus Far

"Sydney" virus outbreaks reported in Lower 48

Tools

By KTVA CBS 11 News
Bio

Story Created: Jan 28, 2013 at 6:51 PM AKDT

Story Updated: Jan 28, 2013 at 7:43 PM AKDT

ANCHORAGE - Health officials nationwide have reported outbreaks of a strain of norovirus called the "Sydney" virus. Luckily for Alaskans, they've been mostly spared from the gastro-intestinal irritation that can cause a bout of vomiting and diarrhea.

Nationwide, the virus kills about 1,000 Americans every year. The most vunerable are the elderly, and those in elder care homes are where the disease tends to spread more quickly.

Unlike the flu or some other viruses, norovirus can last much longer outside the body. Doctor Michael Cooper, program manager for Alaska Infectious Disease Control, emphasized the importance of hygiene. "They can live on those for days or even weeks, and other people can touch those and get exposed to them. They can get into food. They can get into water. So it's a very hard bug once somebody is sick and transmitting it to stop that transmission," he said.

He also says once you catch it, there isn't much you can do, but keeping healthy and hydrated can help people to recover more quickly.

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 1000 Characters Left

KTVA CBS 11 | Anchorage, Alaska News and Weather and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the above comments or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove or edit user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any Public Forum.
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.