In South Tyrol Up to 9 hikers were hit by norovirus. They had been treated the day before at the hospital in Bressanone because they had symptoms of gastroenteritis, then tests revealed the origin of the infection. Here is what happened, the symptoms and the treatment of the virus.
Norovirus, what is the virus that triggers gastroenteritis: symptoms, causes and treatments
What happened
Norovirus is the pathogen that affected the 9 hikers treated yesterday evening, August 25, in the emergency room of the hospital in Bressanone. They presented symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea. “The clinical situation of the affected subjects was not worrying; all patients have been discharged and are on the road to recovery,” announced the South Tyrolean health authority in a press release. To determine the cause of the illnesses, laboratory tests were carried out, which revealed that the 9 people had contracted an infection with norovirus.
The health authority announced that it had reacted immediately, adopting “all necessary measures to limit the spread of the virus”. “All those affected were informed and asked to pay more attention to hand hygiene and preventive measures. Information material was also made available. The accommodation facilities where the tourist group had spent the night or stopped were also asked to adopt preventive hygiene measures. The public hygiene service is constantly monitoring the situation”, continues the note from the South Tyrolean health authority. “Norovirus – recalls the Health Authority – is mainly transmitted from person to person. Infections and outbreaks can also occur via food, drinks or contaminated surfaces (such as door handles). In general, the infection is not dangerous for healthy people and the symptoms usually disappear within a few days. Thanks to correct compliance with hygiene measures the risk of infection can be limited. It is essential to wash your hands thoroughly after going to the toilet or after contact with potentially contaminated objects: for example diapers and personal towels, just as cleaning and disinfecting the toilet reduces the risk of contagion for the environment.
What is Norovirus, Symptoms and Treatment
THE Norovirus It is a fairly common and highly infectious pathogen, and it is also very resistant (it even survives temperatures above 60°C and chlorine), so the infection is transmitted quickly.
Norovirus infections typically occur in community settings (such as hospitals, nursing homes, transportation) and symptoms appear between 12 and 48 hours after infection. The signs are typical of gastroenteritis: nausea, cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, sometimes accompanied by fever.
The disease usually does not have serious consequences and the symptoms disappear about 1-2 days after the onset of discomfort, without further complications. During the course, however, rest and fluid intake are recommended to compensate for dehydration. The only possible ally against this virus is the preventionwhich is carried out with particular attention to hygiene standards, especially when distributing food and drinks in infected contexts.
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