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The New York Health Department reported on Thursday that the
emergency department reached 500 visits per day in the seasonal stomach flu. The
norovirus, which usually is at its peak in winter months, spreads across the
entire country and last no more than a few days of illness.
The symptoms for the stomach flu are vomiting, diarrhea,
sometime nausea, stomach cramping, fever, chills, aches and tiredness. It is usually
not a serious illness, at least nor for an adult. The problems could appear for
babies under six months, who will need to drink lots of fluids when ill.
The hospitals have become overcrowded since the virus
reappeared. Among them, Columbia University Medical Center in Manhattan, the
Lutheran Medical center in Sunset Park, the Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx
or the Jamaica Hospital Medical Center in Queens.
Dr. Sharon Balter, Director of Enteric Disease for the
Health Department’s Bureau of Communicable Disease said: “The best way to stop
the spread of norovirus is to wash our hands regularly with soap and stay home
from work or school if you are sick. Norovirus is common at this time of year
and is not serious for most people, but it is important to take these steps to
keep others from getting sick.”
The stomach virus easily spreads from one person to another
when sharing food or utensils with an infected person or touching contaminated
surfaces and putting their hands in the mouth afterwards. In order to prevent
such an infection, the person should pay more attention to washing their hands
as often as possible. In case of infection public or crowded places should be avoided.
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