MadameConcorde From San Marino, joined Feb 2007, 10350 posts, RR: 40 Posted (5 years 5 months 2 weeks 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 1126 times:
British media sources are reporting on this pandemic as being due to a virus, and as we can read as reported by Guardian News Service in their report titled "Vomiting bug to get worse", and which says:
"Infections from the debilitating Norovirus stomach bug will peak this week as millions return to work after the holidays and spread the germs, the government has warned. The virus, which was responsible for closing more than 100 hospital wards last week and Doctors estimate that more than 100,000 people a week are catching the infection - and the rate may peak this week as the virus takes the opportunity to spread in the workplace and classrooms.
ManuCH From Switzerland, joined exactly 8 years ago today! , 2977 posts, RR: 51 Reply 1, posted (5 years 5 months 2 weeks 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 1113 times:
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I don't know about the UK, but I had this same thing last February, and I can assure you, it's not fun. At the same time I had this, a friend of mine working as a nurse said they had to isolate entire floors because the Norovirus epidemic was flooding the entire hospital.
The easiest way to catch the virus is walk around in crowded places. It's also easy to catch it in a restaurant - a sick waiter handling a plate is enough if he didn't wash his hands too well.
Moo From Falkland Islands, joined May 2007, 3614 posts, RR: 4 Reply 2, posted (5 years 5 months 2 weeks 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 1104 times:
Nope, its not a hype, its a real danger - every one of my local hospitals has at least one ward closed, and several wards have been closed more than once as new patients get the virus again.
You do get an immunity from having it, but it only lasts a few months so it can be quite dangerous.
PlymSpotter From Spain, joined Jun 2004, 11254 posts, RR: 63 Reply 4, posted (5 years 5 months 2 weeks 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 1099 times:
I'm not sure about the whole UK, but from a personal perspective I can tell you that 80% of my family had it, or still do, and that it's not at all nice! So far I've managed to avoid it, *touch wood*, and i hope that I continue to, as I have too much work to be taking time off now.
MadameConcorde From San Marino, joined Feb 2007, 10350 posts, RR: 40 Reply 5, posted (5 years 5 months 2 weeks 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 1091 times:
Thank you for your reports.
Are there any doctors on the forum who can tell us more about this pandemic and how to (maybe) avoid it?
I most worry about flights. Planes are a very "enclosed" environment.
We never know who is sitting next to us or if the flight attendants might have this nasty virus.
This makes me want not to travel to the U.K. but maybe it is spread out in other places only our liar politicians won't tell us.
There was a better way to fly it was called Concorde
Shamrock350 From Ireland, joined Mar 2005, 6124 posts, RR: 15 Reply 6, posted (5 years 5 months 2 weeks 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 1091 times:
My class in college was empty all week, only about 6 out of 17 of us were in lessons and it was down to this bug. Some of the teachers were also off and the local hospital stopped people visiting to stop it spreading.
I have avoided it so far but I know some people in my class will return next week not fully recovered and that will spread it.
MadameConcorde From San Marino, joined Feb 2007, 10350 posts, RR: 40 Reply 7, posted (5 years 5 months 2 weeks 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 1060 times:
This is another related article.
I am not a member of the NHS. Again I am not sure if this is a hype or not.
AsstChiefMark From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 8, posted (5 years 5 months 2 weeks 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 1044 times:
Quoting MadameConcorde (Reply 5): Are there any doctors on the forum who can tell us more about this pandemic and how to (maybe) avoid it?
1. Avoid people. Go out during non-peak times to reduce your exposure to crowds.
2. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with your hands. That's how 99% of communicable illnesses are contracted.
2. Wash your hands frequently, especially after touching doorknobs and other communal "touch points."
3. Carry a bottle of Purell alcohol gel at all times and use it frequently.
Become aware whenever you touch something that is likely to carry pathogenic virii and bacteria. As a nurse, it's become second nature. I use Purell after touching doorknobs, handling money, shaking hands, and other places where other peoples' hands have been. I haven't had the flu in five years and haven't had a common cold in three years.
Queso From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 9, posted (5 years 5 months 2 weeks 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 1044 times:
Quoting MadameConcorde (Reply 5): Are there any doctors on the forum who can tell us more about this pandemic and how to (maybe) avoid it?
Quoting MadameConcorde (Reply 7): How doctors lie on death certificates to hide the true scale of the toll from hospital infections
If you believe the article you quoted that doctors lie on death certificates, what makes you think they would tell you the truth about how to avoid infections here in an open forum?
Everybody knows how to avoid infections, and this is no different from any other. Wash your hands often, keep your hands away from your face as much as possible, use a towel to open a public bathroom door when exiting, etc. No need for conspiracies, it's just common sense.
OA260 From Ireland, joined Nov 2006, 25122 posts, RR: 60 Reply 10, posted (5 years 5 months 2 weeks 1 day 17 hours ago) and read 1017 times:
Its also hit Ireland. I know so many people that have been sick this Xmas/New Year. Even when I have called companies over the last few weeks looking to speak to people alot are out sick !!!
I got sick over the Xmas period but thankfully it passed after 3 days and I didn't get stomach problems. Just mega sore throat and blocked sinuses. The only thing you can do is sleep,hot tea and lemon and aspirin every 4 hours !!!
OLYMPIC AIR - ΟΛΥΜΠΙΑΚΗ "Η ΕΛΛΑΔΑ ΨΗΛΑ" "GREECE FLYING HIGH"
ManuCH From Switzerland, joined exactly 8 years ago today! , 2977 posts, RR: 51 Reply 11, posted (5 years 5 months 2 weeks 1 day 17 hours ago) and read 991 times:
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Quoting MadameConcorde (Reply 7): How doctors lie on death certificates to hide the true scale of the toll from hospital infections
No need for government conspiracies here ... the Norovirus isn't some kind of superbug, it's just a super-contagious stomach flu. If you treat dehydration well, it's very unlikely to die from it.
The tips others and myself gave (avoid crowds, keep your hands away from your face and wash them often) is the best you can do to avoid it.
Oli80 From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2006, 685 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (5 years 5 months 2 weeks 1 day 17 hours ago) and read 971 times:
Quoting MadameConcorde (Reply 5): This makes me want not to travel to the U.K. but maybe it is spread out in other places only our liar politicians won't tell us.
It's not just the UK. My brother-in-law is a doctor on an A&E ward in Christchurch, New Zealand and he had it over Christmas and New Year (picked it up on the ward from a whole family that came in because of it).
The thing is, it's been around for a very long time. in 2001 at university in Leicester, my student house of 6 all came down with it. The place was awful - 48 hours of hell!! It spread around our university very quickly.
Make sure you keep your hands clean. Buy disinfectant wipes and keep them on you for public areas. And try not to touch your eyes with dirty fingers.
MadameConcorde From San Marino, joined Feb 2007, 10350 posts, RR: 40 Reply 14, posted (5 years 5 months 2 weeks 1 day 17 hours ago) and read 945 times:
Thank you all for your comments and advice.
It seems that this virus was not much talked about before. Have any people died from it at all?
I wonder if the fact that people are consuming more and more genetically modified foods help this kind of virus to enter the human body more quickly? Genetically modified foods seem to have become a taboo subject something not to be talked about.
There was a better way to fly it was called Concorde
Rara From Germany, joined Jan 2007, 1848 posts, RR: 3 Reply 17, posted (5 years 5 months 2 weeks 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 803 times:
It hit Berlin big time this year. Haven't had it yet and my fingers are crossed, but some of my friends fell victim to the virus. It's hell for 3 days and then you're fine again (Sunshine79, your friend probably has some other kind of infection, the Noro virus doesn't takes as long).
As far as deaths are concerned, every year there are about 50 dead in Germany due to the Noro virus. Mostly the elderly, the young and the weak.
To add to the avoidance hints given here, infected people are contagious long after the symptoms have gone away (up to 10 days), so maintain strict hygiene afterwards as well. Wash cloths and bedsheets at 60 degrees.
Good luck everyone.
Samson was a biblical tough guy, but his dad Samsonite was even more of a hard case.
BristolFlyer From United Kingdom, joined May 2004, 2143 posts, RR: 0 Reply 18, posted (5 years 5 months 2 weeks 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 779 times:
I was wondering if this is any differnet to the Norwalk virus. Me and most of my family had that a few yrs ago over Christmas, no fun. Very contagious.
If you've ever vomitted so many times that there's nothing else to give, then you know what it's all about. I fainted twice whilst trying to vomit for a seventh and eigth time (I've never fainted before or since) and the pain in my stomach muscles was some of the worst pain I've had.
Luv2fly From United States of America, joined May 2003, 11957 posts, RR: 51 Reply 19, posted (5 years 5 months 2 weeks 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 773 times:
Quoting MadameConcorde (Reply 14): Thank you all for your comments and advice.
It seems that this virus was not much talked about before. Have any people died from it at all?
Well here in the USA it is a common occurrence on cruise lines from time to time, so much so that it is not that much of a news story for the media.
UAL747 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 20, posted (5 years 5 months 2 weeks 1 day 7 hours ago) and read 758 times:
Eh, just give it 28 days. By then, the infected will be dead or shot, and all you need to do is find a country farm house to hide in for the next month!
L-188 From United States of America, joined Jul 1999, 29367 posts, RR: 61 Reply 21, posted (5 years 5 months 2 weeks 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 749 times:
It seems to like to break out on cruise ships.
A couple of years ago when the QM2 was on it's round the world trip they had an outbreak. It made news up here because then recently former Alaska governer Frank Murkowski was on the boat. We can only hope that he spent time on the poop deck.
OBAMA-WORST PRESIDENT EVER....Even SKOORB would be better.
ManuCH From Switzerland, joined exactly 8 years ago today! , 2977 posts, RR: 51 Reply 22, posted (5 years 5 months 2 weeks 1 day 4 hours ago) and read 722 times:
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Quoting BristolFlyer (Reply 18): I was wondering if this is any differnet to the Norwalk virus.
Halcyon From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 23, posted (5 years 5 months 2 weeks 1 day 3 hours ago) and read 704 times:
Quoting UAL747 (Reply 20): By then, the infected will be dead or shot, and all you need to do is find a country farm house to hide in for the next month!
If you have an infected friend or family member, you might chain him up in your yard and see what he does.
AverageUser From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 25, posted (5 years 5 months 2 weeks 14 hours ago) and read 593 times:
A comment on "pandemic" in the title:
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a pandemic can start when three conditions have been met:
the emergence of a disease new to the population.
the agent infects humans, causing serious illness.
the agent spreads easily and sustainably among humans.
(Wikipedia, pandemic)
The noroviruses are nothing new to the population, and the virus has already spread worldwide.
This is just a plain old epidemic.
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