Winter Vomiting Disease – It’s Real and It’s Hitting Louisiana Hard

(KMDL-FM) I was "Today Years Old" to borrow a phrase from online when I learned of a disease known as "winter vomiting disease." I am familiar with winter, and I have had experience with vomiting, but I had never known there was a specific moniker given to the ailment that causes unnatural contra-flow in our digestive system.

Of course, "winter vomiting disease" is not the name that medical professionals use when they are diagnosing the symptoms of the malady. Which, I am sure you have guessed by now, include a lot of vomiting. You might also experience vomiting's first cousin, diarrhea, as one of your symptoms as well.

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If you visit your doctor for these symptoms, there is a pretty good chance you will be diagnosed with norovirus. Wastewater tracking from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says norovirus outbreaks are currently happening in Indiana, Michigan, and Louisiana. There are also localized pockets of heavier concentrations of the disease in Texas, Alabama, Florida, and California.

What Causes Winter Vomiting Disease?

What makes this surge of "stomach bug" or "stomach flu" newsworthy is the fact that the nation is experiencing a higher-than-usual level of activity of the disease for this time of year. In normal years, the onset of the viral stomach infection doesn't really get started until December, but this year, an influx of cases was reported as early as October.

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What makes norovirus such a concern for the medical community is the ease with which it can be spread. The virus is highly contagious, and a recent variant of the virus, the GII.17, has been found to be responsible for almost three-quarters of this year's outbreak.

What Are The Symptoms of Winter Vomiting Disease?

Symptoms of norovirus typically develop 12-48 hours after exposure. The most common symptoms are: Diarrhea, Vomiting, Nausea, Stomach pain, Fever, Headache,  and Body aches. The biggest concern from norovirus is dehydration because of the excessive time in the bathroom or the excessive time spent vomiting.

The best way to prevent a norovirus outbreak is to wash your hands a lot. Also, make sure that you wash all fruits and vegetables thoroughly. Make sure you cook all shellfish thoroughly as well. The CDC also suggests you clean and disinfect contaminated surfaces often, and be sure to wash laundry in hot water.

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But probably the best advice that anyone can offer to you is this: if you're sick, stay home. The recommendation is that you be symptom-free for at least 48 hours before you return to an office setting. And if you do find yourself not feeling well, just know the symptoms do pass, like everything you've eaten or had to drink, but they do pass.

I guess you could use the time to catch up on your binge-watching while you recover. Here are some suggestions while you sip your ginger ale and eat your crackers.