As of Feb. 2, 2012, the State of North Carolina Health Departments are reporting multiple cases of the Norovirus. While there have been no confirmed cases to date on the Catawba College campus, the college's Health Services wanted to inform the community of symptoms associated with this virus and preventative measures that can be taken to prevent it.

Symptoms of this illness include:

• Nausea and Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal Cramping
  
  May also have:

• Fever
• Chills
• Muscle aches
• Headache
  
  Symptoms may have a sudden onset. Patients are contagious from the moment they feel ill up to three days after they recover.

Transmission of Norovirus:

• Person to Person
• Indirectly via contaminated food and water

Prevention:

• Wash hands frequently, especially after toilet visits and before preparing, serving, or eating food or drink (Hand sanitizers are not as effective against Norovirus)
• Clean and disinfect contaminated surfaces from vomit or diarrhea with a bleach solution.
• Stay home when sick
• Do not prepare food for other people when sick and at least three days afterward

Treatment:

• Stay hydrated. The body loses fluid through vomiting and diarrhea
• No specific medication for Norovirus

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