The clinics in the northern hemisphere may be “flooded” by a combination of infections: H1N1 and norovirus.
Doctors in the northern hemisphere are preparing for what they say could be a “hard winter” due to the combination of two infections: swine influenza and norovirus. Figures released recently in the United Kingdom show a dramatic increase in cases of norovirus in recent weeks, which, experts say, could be the start of a nationwide outbreak.
At the same time there has been an increase in the number of cases of swine flu in the country, which was expected due to the “second wave” of the H1N1 virus.
So health officials are warning patients not seeking to severe symptoms to stay home so that health workers can concentrate on more serious cases.
The Norovirus (or Norwalk virus) are the most common cause of acute gastroenteristis (stomach infection) whose symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain, fever and malaise.
It is transmitted primarily by fecal-oral route, either by consuming contaminated food and water, the spread from person to person or contact with contaminated surfaces or objects.
Often called “winter vomiting syndrome” or “intestinal flu” (though not an influenza) because pathogens circulating more frequently during the winter months, although they can occur throughout the year.
Outbreaks of norovirus are common in enclosed settings such as hospitals, nursing homes and schools. This is because the virus can spread easily from person to person and can survive several days in a contaminated area.
Therefore-and because it is very infectious, the authorities ask people to present the symptoms of the disease not to visit hospitals or clinics because of the risk of spreading between patients and health personnel.
The Royal College of General Practitioners in the UK recommends that people who show symptoms of acute gastroenteritis that you stay home and off the job during the illness and up to 48 hours after symptoms disappear.
“Patients should not go to clinics or hospitals to avoid spreading the disease to others,” advises Professor Steve Field, chairman of the College.
“Obviously we are concerned with infants and toddlers, the elderly and people whose immune systems are compromised. But usually it is not necessary to visit the doctor with this infection,” he adds.
Although the disease can be very unpleasant, is not dangerous and most patients recover in one to three days.
But a complication could be dehydration due to fluid loss from vomiting and diarrhea, especially young children and the elderly.
Meanwhile, the swine flu cases continue to rise in several northern hemisphere countries where it is entering the flu season. That’s why doctors fear that this winter clinics from being “swamped” with cases of swine influenza and norovirus.
Professor Field says that with good hand hygiene and keeping household surfaces clean and sanitized can help combat both the swine flu and norovirus. “Winter will be a very, very busy,” said the expert.
“Clearly areas of the country will see an increase in cases of norovirus and swine flu at the same time. So people need to be overly vigilant about personal hygiene.
“What I recommend is that we all carry in your purse solution of rubbing alcohol and keep the habit of using it regularly,” he adds.
Recent figures indicate that the incidence of norovirus has increased worldwide in recent years, particularly in the winter months.
According to the Agency for Health Protection in the UK, in 2008 more than 3 million people were infected with norovirus.
The Centers for Disease Control U.S. estimate that 23 million cases of acute gastroenteritis caused by norovirus infection in that country. And WHO says there have been 415,000 confirmed cases of swine flu in the world and nearly 5,000 deaths.
Tags: Flu and Cold Symptoms, flu season, flu symptoms, H1N1 virus, Infections Diseases, influenza, intestinal flu, norovirus, stomach flu, swine influenza, winter vomiting syndrome
