Podcast Summary
Norovirus: Norovirus is a highly contagious virus causing symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and body aches. Practice good hygiene to prevent its spread.
Norovirus is a common virus that can affect people of all ages, and it's not limited to cruise ships. The discussion shared a personal experience of a woman who contracted Norovirus while pregnant, and her husband also got sick during her induction. They both recovered, but it was a challenging experience. Norovirus can cause symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and body aches. It's highly contagious and can spread easily through contaminated food or water, or by coming into contact with an infected person. The podcast hosts also shared their own experiences with Norovirus and emphasized that it's important to practice good hygiene to prevent its spread. They encouraged listeners to tune in for more episodes of their podcast, which covers various health topics with interesting guests.
Norovirus transmission: Norovirus is highly contagious, with few particles needed for infection and can be spread through fecal-oral contact or aerosolized vomit. It can survive in the environment for extended periods, making proper hygiene and food safety crucial to prevent infection.
Norovirus is a highly infectious RNA virus that causes gastrointestinal illness and can be spread through fecal-oral contact or aerosolized vomit. It's a common cause of foodborne illness and can contaminate various environments, leading to outbreaks. Norovirus is incredibly infectious, with as few as 100 viral particles needed to be infected. People can shed the virus in their feces for weeks to months, and a gram of poop can contain up to a billion viral particles. Asymptomatic individuals can also carry and spread the virus, making it a significant public health concern. The virus can survive in the environment for up to two months in water and two weeks on surfaces. Despite these concerning facts, proper hygiene practices and food safety measures can help prevent norovirus infection.
Norovirus carriers: Norovirus can be carried by people without symptoms, leading to its spread. Understanding this is crucial for controlling its transmission and mitigating health risks, especially for vulnerable populations.
Norovirus, a common stomach virus, can be harbored by a significant number of people without them exhibiting symptoms. This is due to a variety of factors, including the length of time the virus remains in the body and the presence of asymptomatic carriers. The symptoms of norovirus, which include vomiting, diarrhea, body aches, and fever, are usually self-limiting and last for about 48 to 72 hours. However, in certain populations, such as young children, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems, norovirus can cause severe illness and even death. Despite the challenges in studying norovirus, it is important to understand this virus and its potential impact on public health.
Norovirus protection and diagnosis: Individuals with blood type AB may be relatively protected from norovirus due to fewer receptors for the virus to bind to, but thorough hand washing and avoiding contaminated food and water are the best prevention methods. Clinical diagnosis during outbreaks is based on symptoms and duration of illness, and there is currently no specific treatment or vaccine for norovirus.
Norovirus, a common cause of stomach bugs, enters our bodies through unknown means and affects different individuals differently, possibly due to a combination of viral strains and individual genetics, specifically the presence or absence of certain antigens in saliva. Non-secreters of these antigens, such as some people with blood type AB, may be relatively protected from norovirus due to fewer receptors for the virus to bind to. Diagnosis during outbreaks can be made clinically based on symptoms and duration of illness, and prevention is the best approach through thorough hand washing and avoiding contaminated food and water. Despite ongoing research, there is currently no specific treatment or vaccine for norovirus.
Norwalk virus origins: The Norwalk virus, now known as norovirus, was a mystery for decades with its origins tracing back to the 1920s. Milk was initially suspected, but norovirus was later discovered as the actual cause in the late 1960s. Despite numerous investigations, it went unnoticed and understudied due to its random and seemingly untraceable nature.
The Norwalk virus, now known as norovirus, was a mysterious and elusive cause of acute gastroenteritis outbreaks for decades, with its origins tracing back to a 1929 report on the "winter vomiting disease." Early theories suggested milk as the culprit, but it was later discovered that norovirus was the actual cause. The virus was named after an outbreak in Norwalk, Ohio, in 1968, where over half of the students and teachers were affected. Despite numerous investigations, the virus went largely unnoticed and understudied due to its random and seemingly untraceable nature, as well as the lack of resources compared to other foodborne illnesses like salmonella and E. coli. It wasn't until 1972 that norovirus was officially discovered and named, but even then, it didn't receive much attention. Human volunteer studies played a crucial role in understanding the virus's behavior and transmission.
Norwalk virus discovery: Discovering Norwalk virus through poop filtrates in the 1960s led to the identification of its causative role in acute gastroenteritis and established infection characteristics. However, it was underappreciated as a cause of foodborne illness until better detection methods emerged in the 1990s, revealing its prevalence and importance of prevention measures.
Norwalk virus, a type of norovirus, was identified through a groundbreaking study in the 1960s where researchers used poop filtrates from infected individuals to infect volunteers. This led to the discovery that Norwalk virus causes acute gastroenteritis, and helped establish infection characteristics such as incubation period and symptoms. Despite this, Norwalk virus was long underappreciated as a cause of foodborne illness due to the belief that viruses were rarely responsible and the self-limiting nature of the infection. However, the advent of better detection methods in the 1990s led to a surge in Norwalk virus detection and it is now estimated to cause about 50% of all foodborne acute gastroenteritis cases in the US. Norovirus continues to evolve and spread, highlighting the importance of prevention measures such as proper food handling, cleaning contaminated surfaces, and eventual vaccine development.
Vomiting response in animals: Vomiting is a widespread protective response in animals, but difficult to study due to lack of a good animal model. One liter of vomit can cover a large area and transmit viruses.
Vomiting, or emesis, is a widespread physiological response in the animal kingdom, with the exception of a few animals like rodents and lagomorphs. This response, which can protect us from ingesting toxins or harmful pathogens, has been difficult to study due to the lack of a good animal model, as many common lab animals like rats and mice do not vomit. Vomiting is an ancient response that has evolved to help protect animals from harm, and while it can be beneficial, too much of it can also be harmful. Researchers have used a mannequin named Vomiting Larry to study the reach and trajectory of vomit, and one liter of vomit can cover an area of around 1.2 by 1.6 meters, with some splashes reaching over three meters in front and seven feet to the sides. Despite its potential benefits, vomiting can also be a source of transmission for viruses like norovirus.
Norovirus aerosols: Norovirus particles can spread through the air, increasing the risk of infection. Black light can help ensure thorough clean-up to prevent further spread.
Norovirus, the infamous stomach bug, is incredibly infectious and can spread easily through vomit. This was illustrated in a study where researchers attempted to clean up after a vomiting machine named Larry, only to discover that they had missed hidden spots when using regular lighting. The study also revealed that norovirus particles can be present in the air, increasing the risk of infection. The researcher involved in the study even found traces of vomit on themselves despite their efforts to clean up thoroughly. The aerosolized particles further increase the risk of infection, as one study detected up to 1,400 norovirus genomes per cubic meter of air in healthcare facilities experiencing an outbreak. Despite the alarming findings, there is some good news: the study also showed that using black light to detect remaining vomit was an effective method for ensuring a thorough clean-up. Additionally, some interesting trivia was shared, such as the existence of a substance called pucilide, which induces vomiting in fish as a defensive mechanism, and the history of the term "vomitoria," which referred to entrances and exits of public arenas where people would gather to leave or enter, not for vomiting as previously believed.
Norovirus epidemiology: Norovirus is a leading cause of acute gastroenteritis, causing over 685 million cases annually and resulting in approximately 200,000 deaths, primarily in low and middle income countries. Researchers are working on a vaccine, but challenges include understanding immunity and the virus's rapid mutation.
Norovirus is a leading cause of epidemic gastroenteritis worldwide, responsible for at least 50% of non-bacterial outbreaks and an estimated 20% of all cases of acute gastroenteritis. With over 685 million cases every year, Norovirus causes significant health and economic burdens, resulting in approximately 200,000 deaths, primarily in low and middle income countries. While most cases are self-limited, severe dehydration and the need for medical attention can occur. Researchers are actively working on developing a Norovirus vaccine, but challenges include understanding the duration and robustness of immunity and the rapid mutation of the virus. A data sharing network called NoroNet has been instrumental in advancing research and understanding the changes in Norovirus genotypes. Despite these challenges, a partially effective Norovirus vaccine could result in significant cost savings due to healthcare and economic losses.
Norovirus prevention: Until a norovirus vaccine is available, proper hygiene practices like washing hands thoroughly and maintaining clean environments are crucial for preventing its spread.
While progress is being made in developing vaccines for norovirus, preventing its spread through proper hygiene practices remains crucial. According to the World Health Organization, several vaccine candidates are in clinical trials, and it's an exciting development in the fight against this common cause of stomach illness. However, until a vaccine is available, washing hands thoroughly and maintaining clean environments are essential measures to prevent norovirus transmission. During our discussion, we also touched on the history and current state of research on norovirus. For instance, we mentioned a 2014 paper on a simulated vomiting system for assessing environmental contamination and a 2005 paper on the emergence of noroviruses. We also highlighted some review papers from 2015 and 2016 that provide valuable insights into the clinical aspects of norovirus and its transmission in a changing world. If you're interested in learning more, you can find a list of our sources for this episode and every episode on our website, thispodcastwillkillyou.com, under the episodes tab. We'd like to express our gratitude to our guests, Bloodmobile for the music, Tom Brifogel and Liana Scholache for audio mixing, and Exactly Right Network for their support. Lastly, we want to remind everyone to wash their hands and stay healthy!