Dr. Zain Chagla, an infectious disease specialist at St. Joseph’s Healthcare in Hamilton, Ontario, says he’s seeing more cases of this “winter” illness that causes “vomiting.”
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This text is a translation of an article from CTV News.
“These are probably post-pandemic patterns that are normalizing and that we are seeing across Canada and even in the United States,” explained Dr. Chagla in an interview with CTV on Monday. “But this is the period we expect.”
Norovirus is a common gastrointestinal illness that occurs more often in winter and early spring, when people spend more time indoors, according to the British Columbia Center for Disease Control (BCCDC).
Symptoms of norovirus
According to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), symptoms of norovirus include vomiting, diarrhea, stomach upset and nausea.
The disease normally spreads when people come into close contact with affected people or contaminated surfaces, the agency says.
Symptoms typically last 24 to 72 hours, the BCCDC reports.
Cases in Canada
Preliminary data indicates more norovirus cases have been reported in recent weeks compared to the five-year historical average from 2019 to 2023, including in Alberta, Ontario, British Columbia, Nova Scotia , in Saskatchewan and Prince Edward Island, mentioned PHAC in an email sent to CTVNews.ca on Thursday.
The agency clarified, however, that the comparison must take into account factors related to the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to a “significant reduction in reporting” of enteric pathogens such as norovirus and lowered the five-year average in during this period.
“As a result, recent trends may appear higher than expected compared to the 2019-2023 baseline period, but they align with trends observed during the pre-pandemic period (2015-2019),” wrote the Agency.
PHAC said it cannot release preliminary data until it is validated by provincial and territorial authorities.
Similarly, Alberta Health says cases have increased over the years, with 295 cases in 2022, 513 in 2023 and 654 last year. However, no outbreaks have been reported during this period, although they are common and can occur at any time during the year.
“While Alberta has seen an increase in cases in recent weeks, which is not unusual during the winter months, there are no confirmed outbreaks of norovirus in Alberta for the moment,” said the Alberta Health Minister’s office in an email sent to CTVNews.ca on Friday.
The BCCDC is reporting an “increase in norovirus activity” in British Columbia, which it calls “typical” for this time of year.
“The levels of illness we have seen so far are high compared to previous years,” the BCCDC added. However, the data was not immediately available.
Separately, two long-term care homes in Saskatchewan are experiencing an outbreak of norovirus, according to the province’s public health, in an email sent to CTVNews.ca on Friday. “Although we do not have specific data immediately, this is a typical situation for this time of year.”
Can norovirus be treated?
Experts say there is no treatment for norovirus, but people who experience significant fluid loss are advised to seek medical attention.
It’s advisable to take small amounts of fluids, such as electrolyte solutions like Gatorade and Pedialyte, during the vomiting phase, which lasts about 24 hours, says Dr. Chagla.
“As long as people are healthy, get through this vomiting phase, and can start hydrating again when the vomiting subsides, most people are able to tolerate the illness,” she said. he declared.
Who is most vulnerable?
The disease can lead to dehydration and even death, with the elderly and young children most at risk, according to health authorities.
When is norovirus most contagious?
Norovirus is most contagious when people start having diarrhea and vomiting, says Dr. Chagla.
“The problem with norovirus is that it only takes 15 viral particles – that is, a microscopic amount of virus – for a person to become infected. The worst is obviously diarrhea and vomiting, which contain millions and millions of viruses.”
People with norovirus should “wash their hands vigorously” with soap and water and avoid high-risk environments where they could spread the virus even after recovery, as they may still shed virus particles, concluded Dr. Chagla.
