Help stop a virus, wash your hands

  • Published
  • By Rech. Sgt. Vann Miller
  • U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs
U.S AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --  Academy medical experts say basic sanitation and hygiene practices are very important, particularly after a recent outbreak of the Norovirus in the Cadet Wing.

The spread of some infections is not uncommon for dorm residents, but in this case, the Norovirus was notably contagious, said Dr. (Maj.) Kevin Fajardo, the 10th Medical Group's preventative medicine chief.

"Living in such close quarters, cadets can be at risk of upper-respiratory infections such as coughs, colds or sore throats," he said. "They may even deal with gastrointestinal infections like nausea, vomiting and diarrhea."

The Norovirus is the most common cause of acute gastroenteritis in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control. Recent statistics show the virus causes about 21 million illnesses, more than 56,000 hospital stays, and between 570 to 800 deaths each year, primarily among the elderly and those with serious underlying medical problems.

The virus can be passed from infected persons, contaminated food or water, or infected surfaces, and can remain transmittable on inanimate surfaces for up to three weeks, according to the CDC. Symptoms associated with the virus include stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea and vomiting.

During the last two weeks, 250 cadets and one permanent party members here were affected by these symptoms; laboratory tests confirmed the responsible pathogen was the Norovirus.

"The best way cadets can remain healthy is to practice good general personal hygiene -- wash their hands multiple times a day, cover their coughs, cough into their elbow instead of their hands, and use instant hand sanitizer often," Fajardo said.

Some preventive strategies work better than others; viruses causing colds and sore throats are usually killed by instant hand sanitizer, but viruses causing GI illnesses often are not, he said.

"Depending on which illness you are trying to prevent, some viruses are not killed or inactivated by instant hand sanitizer," Fajardo said. "The most effective way we can protect ourselves from becoming infected with Norovirus, and other viruses causing gastrointestinal upset, is washing our hands immediately before eating."

Visit www.cdc.gov for more information.