By Maya Warrrier (‘28)
An alarming new stomach bug has rapidly come to surface known as the norovirus. It is a painful stomach virus that causes diarrhea, vomiting, and other stomach problems. According to Nj.com, the bug “Spiked 366% in December compared to last year.”
South Brunswick High School Nurse Mrs. Donna Moreen says that “It’s a gastrointestinal virus, meaning it’s in your intestines.”
This virus is sometimes mistaken for the flu, but it is not related to it.
Some additional symptoms of the norovirus include dehydration, feeling dizzy when standing up, and abnormal sleepiness.
The virus is extremely contagious, which is why it is a big concern in schools.
Nurse Morreen said, “With almost 3,000 kids, and almost 300 staff members, it could spread like wildfire here. [K]ids generally don’t wash their hands as well as adults, [so] one of the most important things you can do is washing your hands.”
Proper hand washing is vital, because there are many students at SBHS, therefore there are many germs and sickness to be spread around.
Furthermore, sickness is spread through food and water contamination. By touching the same food or faucet that someone sick touched, it exposes and spreads the virus.
Freshman Kylie Gilmore said, “To stay safe from the norovirus, I always wash my hands or use hand sanitizer before I eat.”
By cleansing before eating, it prevents the virus from contaminating food, and entering the body.
The sickness also affects students’ ability to attend school, socialize with friends, and attend extracurricular activities. Many wonder what treatments can be used to prevent this.
Mrs. Moreen said she does not fully suggest any over-the-counter medications. However, Imodium is something a lot of people turn to help with diarrhea, but she does not personally recommend it.
Alternatively, Mrs. Moreen said that she, “would rather it take its course and get whatever is in your body out”.
Parents should make sure their children are quarantined while they have the virus. Anyone who has vomiting or diarrhea should stay home until 24 hours after the last time they experience these symptoms. Additionally, drinking water and other fluids will provide a great path to healing, along with getting plenty of rest.
Society should take caution of the contagious norovirus and the risks it poses, especially in crowded environments like schools. Moreover, by taking simple precautions, such as regularly washing hands, and avoiding contaminated surfaces- can significantly reduce the spread of sickness. These measures will provide protection from the virus, and allow for a healthy, happy winter season.
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