The bug that is bringing people to their knees
While it is commonly called the winter vomiting bug, the Norwalk-Like Virus can hit victims at any time of the year.
The National Disease Suveillance Centre estimates about 40,000 are infected by the highly contagious bug every year.
But while the spread of the disease can be controlled, it can never be wiped out completely, NDSC public health medicine specialist Paul McKeown says.
Dr McKeown was sidelined by the bug himself a few years ago. “It is not a pleasant disease,” he said.
He said he was surprised hospitals and health boards had dealt so well with what was a very infectious organism.
“I am surprised they have been able to keep going. Because they moved rapidly to control it they have been very effective.”
All of the hospitals and health boards affected by the virus are strictly following international guidelines.
Dr McKeown said: “Because it is such an infectious disease I thought it would be more widespread than it actually is. The hospitals and health boards are to be commended on the way they controlled it.”
The winter vomiting disease was first described in 1929 and has had many name changes since then.
It is a viral gastroenteritis now known to be caused by Norwalk-Like Virus (NLV).
Norwalk-like viruses are typically associated with outbreaks of self-limited gastroenteritis with symptoms that may include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, fever and malaise.
Dr McKeown said: “There have always been outbreaks of winter vomiting or gastric ‘flu but in the last couple of years in Ireland and throughout the rest of Europe there has been a 50-100% increase in the number of reported cases.
“This disease waxes and wanes so some years it will be worse than others. What we are seeing now is a period where there are more cases than there has been previously and, hopefully, this will reverse in the future.”
Britain has been collecting statistics on the illness for quite some time. Their figures show an increase of 50% over last year.
Dr McKeown said Ireland was learning more about the disease from each outbreak and from observing how neighbouring countries were dealing with it.
The NDSC has already assisted the tourism sector in developing guidelines on dealing with the disease.
Dr McKeown said: “The bottom line is this disease is not eradicable but we can control it to a certain extent and it is important that we do because we have seen the effect it can have on healthcare and tourism. It is a major, major irritation.”
He said he had spoken to a colleague who felt quite well one moment and was throwing up the next.
“At 9.30am he felt a bit shivery but ok. At 10am he felt a bit more shivery and was going off his food. Ten minutes later he was running for the toilet and did not make it in time. He was caught short.”
The virus is also quite tough, Dr McKeown added: “We know from research involving carpet fitters who became ill that the virus can last for a period of two weeks outside the body.”
Dr McKeown recommends that people who catch the bug should stay out of work for at a minimum of three days to stop the spread of the virus to colleagues.
The NDSC is also recommending that infected people avoid going to hospital or their GP’s surgery: “Of course they should contact their doctors but any arrangement should be aimed at containing the virus.”
Anyone who is infected does not build up a permanent resistance: “People develop a short-term immunity for up to 14 weeks but they can become infected more than once.”
The winter vomiting disease is a stomach upset caused by viruses that produce vomiting and/ or diarrhoea.
The most common cause of viral gastroenteritis is that caused by Norwalk-Like Virus (NLV)
Illness is usually mild, lasting less than 2-3 days.
The incubation period is generally about 24-48 hours but may be as short as 6 hours.
Abdominal pain and nausea are usually the first symptoms followed by vomiting and/or diarrhoea.
Vomiting can be forceful or projectile and can be very exhausting. Diarrhoea is usually quite mild.
People who have been sick should remain out of work for at least three full days after their symptoms have stopped.
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