The winter and spring seasons are the peak seasons for Norovirus infection, and there is an increased risk of clustered outbreaks in densely populated places such as schools, childcare institutions, and nursing homes. The Spring Festival holiday is approaching, and there are more activities such as visiting relatives and friends, gathering together, etc. Understanding and implementing scientific protective measures is the key to protecting one's own and family's health. Norovirus infection is a self limiting disease, and the vast majority of people have mild symptoms that can recover on their own within 1-3 days. Its characteristics are strong infectivity, multiple transmission routes, but preventable, controllable, and treatable. The following knowledge can help you cope with it calmly. 1、 Understanding Norovirus: Knowing it, you won't be afraid of it. Norovirus is one of the most common pathogens that cause acute gastroenteritis and is common worldwide. Commonly susceptible, typical symptoms: everyone can be infected. The common symptoms are vomiting and diarrhea, which may be accompanied by nausea, abdominal pain, low-grade fever, etc. Children mainly experience vomiting, while adults mainly experience diarrhea. Come and go quickly: the incubation period is usually 12-48 hours, and the onset is urgent, but the course of the disease is short, usually lasting 1-3 days. Highly contagious, with clear transmission routes: infection with a small amount of virus may lead to illness. The disease is mainly transmitted through "oral ingestion", eating or drinking contaminated food, contact with the patient's vomit or excrement, contact with contaminated objects or environment, and ingestion of aerosols formed by the patient's vomiting. 2、 Core protective measures: By doing these points well, the risk can be greatly reduced. The key to prevention is to cut off the transmission route and remember to "wash hands frequently, eat cooked food, and maintain hygiene". Personal and family protection: "Four musts" and "Four don'ts". Four musts: 1. Wash hands frequently: before meals, after using the toilet, and before processing food, wash hands with soap or hand sanitizer under running water for more than 20 seconds, and wash fingertips, finger crevices, and wrists. This is the most important and effective measure. However, it should be noted that alcohol containing disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizers are ineffective against norovirus and cannot replace hand washing. 2. Pay attention to food safety: drink boiled water and eat thoroughly cooked food (especially shellfish and other seafood). Raw fruits and melons should be washed and peeled. 3. Daily cleaning should be done well: the home environment should be well ventilated. Regularly clean high-frequency contact surfaces such as door handles and faucets. 4. Properly handle pollutants: If family members vomit or have diarrhea, they should immediately use disposable absorbent materials (such as a cloth) dipped in chlorine containing disinfectant (prepared according to the instructions) to cover and clean. When cleaning, wear a mask and gloves, and wash hands carefully after handling. At the same time, pay attention to the "four don'ts": 1. Do not drink raw water and do not eat raw or cold food. 2. Do not share personal items such as tableware and towels with patients. 3. Do not blindly use medication: Norovirus is ineffective with antibiotics and does not need to be taken. 4. Patients should not force themselves to go to school/work: During the illness, they should rest at home and return to school and work 3 days after the symptoms disappear to prevent infecting others. Reminder for key locations: How can collective units jointly build protective nets? Schools, childcare institutions, nursing homes and other units need to implement prevention and control measures: Health management: do a good job of morning and afternoon check ups, timely and standardized management of cases and reporting of abnormalities. Environmental disinfection: Strengthen cleaning and disinfection of key areas such as bathrooms and canteens, and standardize the handling of vomit. Health education: popularize health knowledge such as hand washing, and cultivate good hygiene habits among students/employees. Food safety: Provide safe drinking water, strictly monitor the entire food processing process, and monitor the health status of food, drinking water, and other related personnel on a daily basis. 3、 If infected, what to do: scientific response, smooth passage 1. Stay calm: Norovirus infection usually has mild symptoms and can heal on its own. The primary task is to rest and isolate to avoid infecting others. 2. Moisturizing: Vomiting and diarrhea may cause dehydration, and small amounts of oral rehydration salts or light liquid or semi liquid foods can be consumed multiple times. 3. Seek medical attention promptly: If there are signs of dehydration such as persistent high fever, frequent vomiting and diarrhea, inability to eat and drink, mental fatigue, dry mouth, and low urine output, especially in infants, elderly people, and those with underlying diseases, seek medical attention promptly. 4. Take good home protection measures: Patients should have independent eating utensils and toilets (or thoroughly disinfect after using the toilet). Family members should pay attention to washing hands and strengthen ventilation in the living room. (New Society)