Norovirus in Montana – This is How to Spot Symptoms

Time to Revisit Cold and Flu Season in Montana

As I sat in the waiting room of the hospital for an annual checkup, one of the common things I heard repeated was about cold and flu season.  More specifically, the norovirus infection.

It is that time of the year everyone, make sure you know the symptoms, and how to take precautions to prevent it.

See more below in our article with the Centers for Disease Control. 👇

Norovirus in Montana - This is How to Spot Symptoms

I hate to be the bearer of bad news everyone, but you may want to start to stock up on aerosol disinfectant in the next few coming days and weeks.  That fun thing we love to call the "stomach flu" appears to be rearing its ugly head.

via GIPHY

There is nothing like getting that call from a significant other, my wife in this case, that they are praying to the porcelain goddess.  And while we aren't sure where she came across it, I did a little digging at the CDC to find out more about Norovirus.

What is Norovirus?  Can Anyone Get This Stuff in Montana?

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), yes anyone is susceptible to Norovirus.  It is also the number one reason for vomiting and diarrhea in the United States.  It is even the culprit behind most foodborne illness.

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The CDC states that:

It is sometimes called the "stomach flu" or the "stomach bug." However, norovirus illness is not related to the flu. The flu is caused by the influenza virus. Norovirus causes acute gastroenteritis, an inflammation of the stomach or intestines.

For most cases, people with the norovirus illness get better within 1 to 3 days; but they can still spread the virus for a few days after.

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How to Recognize Norovirus Symptoms in Montana

Even though there are many different versions of Norovirus, the symptoms remain pretty much the same for everyone:

• Most common symptoms: Diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, stomach pain
• Other symptoms: Fever, headache, and body aches

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To help keep yourself from encountering the virus, try these tips from the CDC:

• Wash your hands well and often.
• Cook shellfish thoroughly and wash fruits and vegetables.
• Clean and disinfect contaminated surfaces.
• Wash laundry in hot water.
• Stay home when sick for 2 days (48 hours) after symptoms stop.

To find out more about the Norovirus illness, you can visit here.