Q&A: Norovirus cases are surging in Nova Scotia. Here's how to protect yourself

Norovirus cases are on the rise across the country, and Nova Scotia is no exception.

The provincial health authority says although it does not track the exact number of cases locally, anecdotally doctors have seen an increase this season.

Dr. Aaron Smith, a provincial medical executive director with Nova Scotia Health, spoke to CBC News about the virus.

This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

What is norovirus?

Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that can cause inflammation of your stomach and intestines. It commonly leads to symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, nausea and stomach cramps. Some people can also get fever, headache and body aches. Symptoms will typically develop about one to two days after exposure and last one to three days. It's sometimes called the stomach flu, but it isn't related to influenza at all. It is the leading cause of gastroenteritis worldwide and tends to spread quite quickly in close contact settings like households, schools, health-care facilities.

Is norovirus dangerous?

For most people, norovirus is a short-term illness and resolves in a few days, but it can be more serious for vulnerable groups such as young children, older adults and those with weak immune systems. Recognizing the red-flag symptoms and seeking care promptly is essential. This includes severe or persistent vomiting or diarrhea that lasts more than two to three days. Another red flag is dehydration — the common symptoms would be dry mouth, extreme thirst, little or no urination or dark coloured urine, dizziness or confusion and any kind of blood in your stool or your vomit. And also a high fever that doesn't come down. Those would be the red-flag symptoms and you should consult a health-care provider if you're experiencing any of those.

Are we seeing a rise in cases this season?

As per the Public Health Agency of Canada's surveillance program, cases of norovirus have increased above the five-year average across multiple provinces, including Nova Scotia. This rise could be due to a number of factors. It could be increased social interaction, reduced community immunity from the previous years and other environmental factors. 

How does it spread?

Norovirus spreads through contact with an infected person, ingesting contaminated food or water or touching contaminated surfaces and then touching your mouth. It is incredibly contagious and only a small amount of the virus is needed to cause illness.

How can you protect yourself?

As I said, norovirus is highly contagious, but there's lots of things people can do to help protect themselves, the most important being hand washing with soap and water. It's the best way to prevent the spread of norovirus, but also avoiding preparing food for others if you're sick. Make sure you're disinfecting your surfaces with a bleach-based cleaner. For most cases, rest and hydration are sufficient to recover and people feel better after a few days.

If I had norovirus this season, can I get it again?

You can build some immunity. After infection, you can have immunity to a specific strain of norovirus, but it only typically lasts a few months. Norovirus has many different strains and immunity to one strain does not protect you against others. The key message for Nova Scotians is that norovirus is highly contagious, but it's preventable with proper hygiene and food safety. If you're feeling unwell, make sure you stay home, drink lots of fluids and seek care if needed, especially in the context of those red-flags symptoms.

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