Increase in Norovirus infections reported in St Eustatius

The Caribbean Island of St Eustatius has seen a sharp uptake in Norovirus infections, prompting its Public Health Department to warn its citizens of an outbreak of the viral infection, which causes gastroenteritis in patients.

The St Eustatius Health Care Foundation has confirmed that a significant increase has been in seen in cases of vomiting and diarrhoea. Multiple samples were collected and analysed by laboratories, which revealed that Norovirus, a highly contagious viral infection, was responsible for this.

Gastroenteritis generally presents with symptoms such as diarrhoea, vomiting, nausea and stomach pain. The Department of Health has warned citizens that Norovirus has the potential to spread at a rapid pace and can be contracted quite easily through contaminated food and water or by being in contact with an infected individual.

While the recovery period is one to three days, the public has been informed that there is no specific treatment for the disease and that anyone suffering from an infection of Norovirus must ensure that they don’t get dehydrated.

Thus, it is of the utmost importance that any patient suffering from the disease maintains the level of fluids in his body by consuming water and other fluids, especially those which are rich in electrolytes.

The Health Department has asked citizens to practice good hand hygiene, wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly before consumption and cleaning contaminated surfaces with bleach based house hold cleaners immediately, to restrict the spread of the disease.

Citizens have also been asked to remain at home and avoid going to schools or offices if they display symptoms and wait until two days after the symptoms have subsided to get back to their regular activities, for the sake of their own safety.

Patients who continue to experience symptoms for more than three days must seek medical attention as the risks begin to mount following the passage of that time period.

Currently, the medical facilities on the island have shifted their focus on the immediate impact of this outbreak. All the relevant authorities are working in conjunction with the medical apparatus to resolve this issue quickly.