Within the past months, a virus, called Norovirus, has cases increasing nationwide and is causing some troubles throughout the nation, including in an Los Angeles shelter from the wildfires.

What is Norovirus?

The Norovirus (sometimes called the Norwalk Virus or the Stomach Flu) is mainly a food-poisoning illness, but this virus can also spread from contaminated water and surfaces. This mainly happens when a tank or pipe busts somewhere and it contaminates the normal drinking water or (for contaminated surfaces) if a person has even a little bit of particles of feces or vomit on their hands from improperly washing their hands. 

Symptoms of this virus include: diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, stomach pain, and could possibly include Fever, headache, and body aches. Symptoms show 12-48 after virus exposure but go away in about 1 to 3 days after symptoms show but are still contagious for a few more days after people feel better.

This virus is notorious for being immune to alcohol-based cleaning products, including hand sanitizer. Essentially meaning that Hand sanitizer can not kill the norovirus, however, hand washing can effectively get rid of the virus. 

Recently, at a Pasadena wildfire shelter, at least 28 cases of the Norovirus were detected, with more cases surging nationwide, with about 55 laboratory-confirmed outbreaks in California.

The CDC recommends washing your hands for 20 seconds, especially after using the bathroom to stop the spread of this virus.