BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – Vermont health officials say a nasty stomach bug is making the rounds and they’re urging the public to take some simple precautions.
The highly contagious norovirus is on the rise across our region, as well as across the country. If you catch it, officials say to expect around three or so days of vomiting and diarrhea.
“As long as you’re safe and you don’t need medical care, then the best thing to do is to stay home and stay hydrated and take measures not to spread the virus.,” said the UUVM Medical Center’s Dr. Tim Lahey. Although he says some people should seek emergency care if they have trouble taking care of themselves. “For little kids and for elderly people, immunocompromised people who are having a hard time weathering the norovirus storm so much so that it’s hard to get enough fluid in or they’re not able to eat and drink for days, they can’t take important medicines. Then it’s reasonable to try to seek medical care.”
Though norovirus can infect people easily, Lahey says handwashing with soap and water is a great way to stop it. “Norovirus is really easy to spread typically. By not washing hands. But if you wash your hands and clean down bathrooms, surfaces, and don’t share food or bathroom spaces with others, you can stop the transmission of norovirus,” he said.
Cases of COVID, RSV, and the flu are also rising but health officials say Vermont is only seeing about half the COVID cases this time last year.
“It’s really the same story with flu and RSV. The other respiratory illnesses that we’re able to track the way we’re able to track COVID-19, we’re seeing increases in this in both of these. But we’re still in a relatively low Level of activity,” said the Vermont Department of Health’s John Davy. He says vaccine uptake numbers are also lower this year for flu and COVID. “Even though it’s not 100% gonna protect people against getting COVID or flu, it’s gonna make them less likely to get COVID or flu, and it’s gonna make them less sick when they have it. Which means they’re gonna have less of a chance to spread it to others.”