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Norwalk Virus Strikes the Twin Cities
HealthPartners Bloomington Clinic physician offers advice on prevention
February 19, 2007
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. The Norwalk virus, commonly known for striking cruise ship passengers, is now making its way through the Twin Cities. The virus, also known as Norovirus, is a highly contagious gastrointestinal disease spread through contaminated food, surfaces and contact with infected people.
"Norwalk virus is definitely making its seasonal rounds," said Douglas Hotvedt, M.D., internal medicine physician at the HealthPartners Bloomington Clinic. "It is not a reportable disease so the likelihood of the number of cases in the public could be very high, unfortunately, there is no cure for the illness, and individuals experiencing these symptoms must stay hydrated, rest and let it run its course."
Recipients of the virus experience symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cramps, fevers and headaches. The infection usually lasts two to three days without serious or long-term health effects; however, the virus can also cause dehydration which can lead to hospitalization. If dehydration is ignored or not treated, the infection can be life-threatening, specifically, in the young, the elderly and the immune-compromised.
People get infected by swallowing stool-contaminated food or water. Norwalk and Norwalk-like viruses are increasingly being recognized as leading causes of food-borne disease in the United States. To prevent further outbreaks from occurring, Dr. Hotvedt advises patients to:- Wash hands with soap and warm water before and after food use
- Cook all shellfish thoroughly before eating
- Wash raw vegetables before eating
- Dispose of sewage in a sanitary manner
- Food handlers with symptoms of Norwalk illness should not prepare or touch food
About HealthPartners
Founded in 1957, the HealthPartners (www.healthpartners.com) family of healthcare companies serve more than one million medical and dental health plan members nationwide. It is the largest consumer-governed, nonprofit health care organization in the nation, providing care, coverage, research and education to improve the health of members, patients and the community. For the third year in a row, HealthPartners is rated one of the best commercial health plans in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, NCQA's "America's Best Health Plans 2007" and is ranked "Highest in Member Satisfaction among Commercial Health Plans in the Minnesota-Wisconsin Region" by J.D. Power and Associates.
Contact: 952-883-5314
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