Norovirus and rotavirus sicken many

Thursday, January 29, 2009

ERIE, PA — A duo of viruses has been wreaking havoc on Erie County for the past month, according to the Erie Times-News.

Norovirus and rotavirus, two highly contagious infections whose eradication requires extensive cleaning of surfaces, have been infecting residents, notably schoolchildren, at an alarming rate, the story stated.

Wayne Jones, medical director of Saint Vincent Health Center's emergency department, said: "What's unusual is that we normally see rotavirus when the children go back to school in the fall, and again in the spring. We see norovirus in outbreaks and then it quickly goes away."

Most people recover on their own within 12 to 60 hours, but the illness can lead to dehydration, especially in infants and the elderly, the story noted.

There is no cure for a stomach flu caused by norovirus or rotavirus, but a new vaccine reduces a child's chance of developing the rotavirus version of it, the story added.