Winter Vomiting Illness

Winter Vomiting Illness

For the past few seasons, the Northern Virginia area has experienced a gastrointestinal illness referred to as "Winter Vomiting Illness". While gastrointestinal illness is not unexpected, and occurs every year typically in winter months, it is highly contagious and people should take steps to avoid contracting the illness.

The illness is caused by a virus known as a Norovirus and is part of a of group of viruses described as “ Norwalk-like viruses”. Norovirus causes the “stomach flu,” or vomiting and diarrhea, in people and is sometimes confused with food poisoning.

Norovirus is not typically life threatening, but it can be serious for people who are unable to drink enough fluids to replace what they lose through vomiting or diarrhea. Outbreaks of norovirus often result in high absenteeism in schools and daycares. Other common locations for outbreaks include nursing homes and long term care facilities, dormitories, or hotels where many people share close spaces, are susceptible to this communicable illness.

In addition to vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, and stomach cramps, symptoms may include headache, low-grade fever, chills, muscle aches and a general sense of tiredness. Many of these can last between two to three days. Infants, young children and people unable to care for themselves, such as disabled or elderly, are at higher risk of dehydration from loss of fluids.

This virus is very common and health officials urge that children who are vomiting or have diarrhea to be kept out of daycare and home from school to help stem the spread of illness. Healthcare workers and people who handle food should (such as wait staff or cooks) not go to work while they have diarrhea. They should stay out of work for several days after symptoms subside. It is important to note that even after symptoms subside and patients begin to feel better they may still be infectious and vigilant handwashing is critical for the prevention of spread.

Norovirus is present in the stool and vomit of infected people and is spread primarily through person to person contact. Norovirus is also a common cause of foodborne illness as a person who has the illness may contaminate food as he/she prepares it.

To prevent the spread of norovirus, or if someone in your household is ill, take the following precautions:

• Wash hands frequently; use waterless hand sanitizers between hand washings.
• People who are sick should not prepare, serve, or handle food for others.
• People who work in direct patient care and child/elder care should not work when they have gastrointestinal illness and should remain home from work for three days after symptoms end.
• Promptly disinfect contaminated surfaces with household chlorine bleach-based cleaners.
• Promptly wash soiled articles of clothing.

Norovirus Links:
Virginia Department of Health fact sheet on norovirus
Centers for Disease Control Questions and Answers
CDC -Norovirus fact sheet

Proper Hand Washing - First defense against the illnesses.

People may also call the Fairfax County Health Department at 703-246-2433, TTY 703-591-6435.