As the spring semester began, a wave of illness spread around the student body. Some chalked it up to colds, others blamed the flu and a few suspected food poisoning — but as more students reported symptoms of nausea and stomach pain, a new diagnosis emerged: norovirus.
Norovirus is one of the leading causes of acute gastroenteritis (the inflammation of the stomach or intestines) worldwide. Although commonly mistaken as a flu, the norovirus belongs to a family of highly contagious viruses that spread rapidly throughout communities.
The virus causes nausea, stomach cramping, headaches, vomiting and more. Individuals typically notice symptoms 12 to 48 hours after their initial exposure to norovirus and experience them for 1 to 3 days. In some cases, young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems may have continued illness, which can last up to a week or more…