Douglas County has seen a spike in Norovirus in waste detection recently, according to Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health.
It’s a nasty stomach bug that causes symptoms including diarrhea, stomach pain, vomiting and nausea. It lasts 24 to 48 hours, according to LDCPH.
“If you catch Norovirus, there is no treatment. Your best bet is to stay home, drink fluids, and wait for it to pass,” according to LDCPH.
LDCPH also advises to stay home when you’re sick, and to avoid preparing food for anyone else while you’re sick and for two days after your symptoms end. Drink a lot of water, wash your hands and clean surfaces.
To avoid Norovirus, you should wash your hands; rinse off fruits and vegetables; and cook shellfish thoroughly, according to the health department.
On the bright side, the county is seeing low levels of RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) and flu for all age groups, according to LDCPH’s emergency department visit surveillance. COVID-19 cases are also continuing to trend downward after a brief uptick, according to the health department’s latest update.
Read more about Norovirus on the CDC’s website at this link.
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