Posted: October 3, 2008

Health Information on Norovirus "Stomach Flu"

Earlier this week Georgetown University experienced an outbreak of viral gastroenteritis caused by the Norovirus.  Although we have not had an outbreak at The George Washington University, we want to inform the community about this virus. 

Norovirus is a highly contagious viral infection transmitted through person to person contact or food-water ingestion and has a short incubation period of one to two days.  Affected students may experience vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, and sometimes headaches and low grade fever. All symptoms start suddenly, and, in most cases, the virus lasts one to two days.

Transmission can occur one of the following ways:

• Eating food or drinking liquids infected with the virus;
• Touching surfaces infected with the virus and then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes;
• Person to person through sharing eating utensils, shaking hands, caring for a sick person; and
• Not washing hands after using the bathroom and before eating or preparing food.

Here are a few ways you can protect yourself:

• Frequently wash your hands, especially before eating or preparing food;
• Avoid shaking hands;
• Use alcohol sanitizers; and
• Clean surfaces with Clorox.

If you are experiencing any of these problems, seek medical care immediately.  The Student Health Service is available Monday through Friday during business hours and Saturday mornings.  If your symptoms are severe, go directly to your closest Emergency room.

GWU Student Health Service
2141 K St. NW #501
(202)994-6827
http://gwired.gwu.edu/shs

For more information, please refer to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at www.cdc.gov.