It's going to be a very interesting winter in Australia 2013 with a chronic gastro virus circling back around from Europe.
I attach here some facts taken directly from the University of New South Wales article on this virus strain.
Norovirus Facts:
· Norovirus is the leading cause of outbreaks of viral gastroenteritis worldwide, estimated to cause half of all cases globally.
· It is associated with more than 200,000 deaths per year in frail, immune-compromised or malnourished people.
· It causes 64,000 episodes of diarrhoea requiring hospitalisation and 900,000 clinic visits amongst children in industrialised countries each year.
· After one or two days of incubation, signs include acute onset of nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps and diarrhoea, which last two to three days.
· Keeping hydrated is extremely important and painkillers can be taken for headaches and aches.
· Norovirus is spread by contact with an infected person or contaminated surfaces and objects, or through food and fluids.
· Prevention is the best defence against this virus.
Interestingly the US has also been hit with a strain of flu virus, although the US government and the WHO are claiming there is no flu pandemic - possibly another media beat up - 'they' say January is a slow news month! However, the reason I bought it up of course is because I wonder what effect global warming is having on communicable diseases this and the tropical disease forum happening with the WHO this year Check out some details of this here - including dengue which has shown it's ugly face in the form of increased outbreaks in last decade in Queensland.
Previous dengue outbreaks
Current dengue outbreaks
New WHO updates that show the US flu is petering out, not an epidemic or pandemic at all - although interesting to not it's an unlabelled flu strain that's causing so much trouble!
Updated Northern Hemisphere stats
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