Viruses that make us Sick

by orangefatcat 5 Replies latest jw friends

  • orangefatcat
    orangefatcat

    This morning as I was going over to the hospital I heard that another one of the hospitals within the radius of Toronto had closed the Emergency Rooms due to a severe out break of a strain of influenza. It was not one of the strains that was included in the flu vaccine this year so it has caused quite a stir in the hospitals and nursing homes and schools. As I was talking to my doctor this morning I told him the Richmond Hill hospital closed down the emer. and then he told me our own hospital just did the same this morning. in the town of Newmarket. He said it is so bad. Staff and patients have it. They can't afford to have it spread anymore throughout the hospital. It is an airbourne virus. It mainly affects the stomach. It causes severe diahrrea, high temp. aching body and extreme fatigue but unable to sleep. So he says if you have these symptoms its important to drink lots and lots of fluids and to wash your hands about 20 times a day esspecially after using the washroom with lots of soap and to get rest. Its the only way to rid your body of this flu bug. And as most know anti-biotics don't work on viruses. So it is a waiting game and taking care of your self. Elderly and young kids are more vunerable so if you have one of these loved ones in your home take extra care of them.

    Love Orangefatcat..

    Edited by - orangefatcat on 6 December 2002 19:49:23

  • lauralisa
    lauralisa

    Hi Orange,

    This thing is going around here in Minnesota too... someone said it's called the "Norfolk flu". I was planning on getting a flu shot tonight.... should I bother now if it's not included in the current vaccine? Oh, yuck.

    I wonder if this is the same kind of thing that's messing up all of those cruiseline ships? I can't imagine a worse fate - at sea, stuck on a boat, sick as ***......

    Take care of yourself - laura

  • blondie
    blondie

    Is this the Norwalk virus that has hit some cruise ships and is now in several hospitals near me. Ooooh, it reminds me of the miniseries THE STAND.

    Blondie

  • orangefatcat
    orangefatcat

    It is the Norwalk Viris and it is the one that is hitting with a vengence and as I said this virus was not included in the vaccine preperation that is being given out at the moment. This was verified for me this morning by my doctor. Yuck is right. Because last week I had my influenza vaccine. I also had my pneumovac last year and also less than five years ago. Some people need it only every ten years but the doctor said some now need sooner and it appeared I was one of them when last year I came down with pneumonia last year. now that is yucky

    Well I hope no one gets it and stays healthy over the holidays. Just keep your hands washed with soap regularly and drink lots of fluids.

    LOVE ORANGEFATCAT

  • TD
    TD

    I had a little bird and her name was Enza -- I opened up the door and in-flu-Enza

    Seriously though, Influenza is caused by a family of virues by the name of Orthomyxoviridae. These are airborne and infect the respiratory tract

    Norwalk and its kin (e.g. Hawai virus, Snow Mountain virus) belong to a small unclassified family. These are food-borne and infect the G.I. tract.

    Norwalk is not a strain of influenza. It's not even remotely related.

    There is a plant-based vaccine for Norwalk in the works, but I don't believe it is available to the public yet.

  • Scully
    Scully

    Hi OFC

    Just to clarify a little regarding the Norwalk virus: It is not a strain of influenza. A true influenza is a respiratory sickness. We are just so used to referring to vomiting and diarrhea as "the flu", that we make the automatic association. The Norwalk virus causes a type of gastroenteritis (the proper terminology for "vomiting and diarrhea") not influenza.

    The hospital where I work is also affected by this virus. Infection control measures are strict handwashing protocol to prevent the spread of the virus by cross contamination. There are signs all over the place restricting eating at the desk (which is sometimes a necessity when you're working with a heavy patient assignment and don't always get the time to take a proper break).

    The ward just above ours has had an outbreak of this virus, so they implemented visiting restrictions. The same with Labour and Delivery: four nurses went home sick the night before last because of the virus, and they had to divert patients elsewhere. Patients were not allowed to have visitors in L&D, and they were sending them out to us as soon as they were medically stable, rather than keeping them the routine two hours. The hospital arranged for the L&D area to be "crashed" - the strict kind of cleaning that gets EVERYTHING, usually reserved for patients with things like latex allergy. We have a couple of patients on our unit with Norwalk virus, and we are using "contact" and "airborne" isolation precautions in our care for them.

    There is a 48 hour incubation period for this virus, and any hospital employee who contracts the illness has to be off work until they've been symptom-free for 48 hours, so that the illness is not spread to anyone else. The symptoms strike very suddenly. I think I may have had this virus back in early November - I was just starting my shift like I normally do, then suddenly felt faint, turned extremely pale and started vomiting within the space of three minutes. I was sent home and stayed sick for six days.

    The best thing you can do to prevent getting this virus yourself is to be aware of anyone around you who has symptoms of a gastroenteritis. Enforce strict handwashing with them and yourself. They should be washing their hands after using the toilet. They should try to stay in one place as much as humanly possible (BED) and the housekeeping routine - especially in the kitchen and bathroom - should include some kind of antiseptic on all countertops and food preparation surfaces. If they are vomiting, be aware that the virus can become airborne - when someone barfs, it can produce a microscopic mist full of infectious viruses - so stand back!! Do not prepare food without washing hands. Do not eat at a desk or dining room table (etc) without wiping down the surface with an antibacterial agent before AND after. This is because the virus lives on surfaces for 48 hours, and if you sit down to eat at the same table as your sick friend you can take in the virus with your food and become sick yourself.

    If you do get sick, get yourself to bed. Don't get up except to use the bathroom. Drink lots of fluids, soup is great. Take Tylenol for the aches and pains and fever. If you live alone, make sure you keep your bathroom and kitchen clean with antibacterial disinfectants to prevent re-infection. Get lots of rest.

    Thanks for mentioning this OFC. You helped me do my good deed for the day.

    Love, Scully

    Edited by - Scully on 7 December 2002 12:40:43

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