hyderabad-reels-under-the-spell-of-norovirus

Several cases of Norovirus are being reported from the Old City of Hyderabad.

 

The virus, which is the most common cause of gastroenteritis, has been causing “complicated gastroenteritis with acute kidney injury,” mostly among middle-aged and senior citizens, and pregnant and adolescent girls, said doctors.

 

The symptoms include diarrhoea, vomiting and rapid dehydration of the body, causing a severe risk of damage to kidneys, rendering the patients to go for dialysis.

 

Those diabetic are most prone to this highly contagious virus that spreads through food, water and surfaces contaminated by the virus.

 

The Norovirus also spreads through human contact between the infected patient and others.

 

According to doctors, they have been witnessing an inflow of 25-30 patients every day for the past couple of weeks.

 

Most of the Norovirus cases have been reported from Azampura, Edi Bazar, Purani Haveli, Yakutpura, Old Malakpet and other areas.

 

Doctors caution that it could very well spread to other areas in Hyderabad, if preventive measures are not adopted immediately.

 

The Food safety department has been conducting raids in high-end restaurants and other food and beverage manufacturing companies.

 

They also need to focus on the fast-food centers in the Old City, where the food is highly contaminated, in addition to ensuring that the residents are supplied clean drinking water.

 

Drainage system is poor in the Old City and the condition worsens during monsoons.  

 

What is Norovirus?

 

Norovirus infection, sometimes referred to as stomach flu, is unrelated to the flu caused by the influenza virus.

 

It is a type of virus that causes gastroenteritis or stomach flu. Usually, it presents with symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea.

 

Most healthy people will recover over a few days. But for people with a weakened immune system, for example, their symptoms can last longer than that.

 

The spread of the virus is not new to Hyderabad. It could be prevented by not eating outside food, and following personal hygiene.

 

There have been 2,500 norovirus outbreaks in the US every year between November and April, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

 

It is also called the ‘winter vomiting bug’ and the ‘Norwalk virus.’