CORTLAND, N.Y. — Norovirus is high on the list of the most infectious diseases and it is spreading around Central New York right now.
The experts said it’s “unfair” how easily it’s passed on from person to person. The infected person may not even know they are still contagious.
“We know it is on the uptick because we are hearing from those practices and their visit numbers are significantly up,” said Dr. Philip Heavner, the Chief Medical Officer at Guthrie Cortland Medical Center.
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Nevertheless, people in Syracuse are taking the proper precautions, keeping hand sanitizer on them at all times.
“I keep it on me,” said Naeem Hall, who works in Syracuse. “Having a daughter and a lady and people you’re in contact with every day, you have to be clean.”
Thankfully, most cases of Norovirus do not land patients in the hospital. Often, it is the dehydration that comes with vomiting that is the threat. So, it is important to stay hydrated.
But even once the symptoms subside, there is still a risk to others.
“What’s really interesting, is that for a full two days after you feel better, you’re still pretty contagious,” Dr. Heavner explained. “That’s why it’s so unfair. And really, you can shed the virus for up to two weeks.”
Everyone is at the same risk of catching it, but children have a higher chance of catching it when they are at school. Once it enters a household, it is especially tough to avoid spreading it, Heavner said.
“If you have someone in your family, for instance, who’s got this and they’re not really careful about washing their hands and taking care of their hygiene when they’re having their symptoms, which is throwing up and having diarrhea, it’s around. And it’s easy to catch,” Heavner explained.
Those at the hospital said the key to not getting sick is the usual order: Washing your hands, avoiding contact with your face and wiping down surfaces that could still be harboring the virus.