PyeongChang 2018, the ongoing XXIII
Olympic Winter Games at the South
Korean city of Pyeongchang, has been hit by an extraordinary outbreak of
disease. A Norovirus infection is
sweeping through the Games Village and surrounding areas, cutting down people with
severe attacks of diarrhoea and vomiting, and spreading panic among
athletes and residents.
So, what is Norovirus?
It is a bug similar to the diarrhoea-inducing rotavirus for which India has
recently included a vaccine in its universal immunisation programme. While rotavirus primarily affects children,
Norovirus infects people across age
groups. Disease outbreaks typically occur aboard cruise ships, in nursing
homes, dormitories, and other closed spaces (such as the Games quarters).
How do you get the infection?
Norovirus is highly contagious, and can be transmitted
through contaminated food, water, and surfaces. The primary route is
oral-faecal. One may get infected multiple times as the virus has different
strains. Norovirus is resistant to many
disinfectants and heat up to 60°C. Therefore, merely steaming food or
chlorinating water does not kill the virus. The virus can also survive many common hand sanitisers.
How common is Norovirus
infection?
It is the most common pathogen
implicated in outbreaks of gastrointestinal
disease (inflammation of the stomach and intestines), according to the
World Health Organisation.
How can the infection be
prevented and treated?
The basic precaution is also the
most obvious — repeatedly washing hands
with soap after using the lavatory or changing diapers. It is important to wash
hands scrupulously before eating or preparing food. During outbreaks, surfaces
must disinfected with a solution of
hypochlorite at 5,000 parts per million. Diagnosis is done by real-time reverse
transcription polymerase chain reaction. No vaccines are available for the disease.
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