THE "NOROVIRUS" SCARE-PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE

Summer is often the real season for infectious diseases as the bugs can thrive under optimal weather conditions available during the period. With the pathogens multiplying at a frenetic pace, they spread rapidly among the population through air, water, food and direct contact with contaminated surfaces. Added to this water scarcity gets acute during summer and hand washing becomes the first casualty. This is true for Bacteria, Virus and other disease causing vectors. Interestingly in a country like the US where winter conditions are still prevalent, a warning has been issued regarding the danger posed by Norvirus, earlier known as Norfolk Agent, and one can imagine the potency of this virus to cause havoc even under hostile conditions. Here is a take on this development.  

"There are some important reasons that lead to so many people becoming ill from Norovirus," said Martin Bucknavage, extension food safety specialist. "One is the virus's low infectious dose. It is estimated that it may take only 10 viral particles to make someone ill. Then, there is the ability of the virus to survive on dry surfaces for two weeks or more and in water for months." The virus, which often moves quickly through a school or cruise ship, can be spread in contaminated food or water, from contaminated surfaces, directly from a sick person or from the intake of aerosolized droplets of vomit. And the main symptom of a Norovirus infection is another factor in its spread -- acute-onset vomiting. "This prevents people from becoming sick in a secure location," Bucknavage said. "Rather, rapid onset can occur at a dinner table, in a meeting or on the bus. People usually become ill within 24 hours of exposure, although longer incubation periods do occur." And once someone gets sick, they can experience symptoms for 24 to 72 hours and can remain contagious for up to three days. Bucknavage says the key to preventing infection is frequent and correct hand washing -- scrubbing hands with soap and warm water. In addition, it's important for people to stay home when ill, especially when they may have been exposed to someone who has had the illness". 

Though the danger is confined to the population of the US where instances of food poisoning have been reported, its advent under tropical conditions cannot be ruled out. If Norovirus is so common in the atmosphere there could be the possibility that most of the population in these regions have already developed immunity long ago and only those with weak immunity might be exposed to the risk. But the immunity developed due to single exposure is considered temporary raising some concerns. An encouraging factor is that most foods consumed in tropical countries are invariably over-cooked causing destruction of all pathogens.Similarly chlorinated water is supposed to be free from this virus. Considering that Norovirus accounts for more than 90% of non-bacterial GI infection, it is better constant vigil is kept on incidences of infections caused by this RNA based virus.

V.H.POTTY
http://vhpotty.blogspot.com/
http://foodtechupdates.blogspot.com

HAND WASHING-FIGHTING THE VIRUS INFECTION

Hand washing has received wide scale attention after the swine flu pandemic that has affected more than 50 countries and is predicted to become more virulent in the coming months. It is not that man is not aware about the efficacy of hand washing in curtailing spread of viral infection in general but the helplessness in controlling viral disease like swine flu, for which there is no vaccine available yet, appears to have pitchforked hand washing to the center, with some hope that this will halt or at least reduce the progress of this disease to some extent. The desperate situation even led to observing a day recently as hand washing day in many countries!

In spite of the mass media going full throat in reporting about the mortality due to swine flu around the world and many promotional efforts to sensitize people regarding the importance of hygiene, impact seems to be practically zero! According to a study in Australia, "three out of 10 men you shake hands with won't have washed after going to the toilet. For women, it's fewer than one in 10, according to a study by the nation's Food Safety Information Council. The observational study of 200 people, who used the public loos at a food hall in an Australian shopping center, also showed no improvement in post-toilet hand-washing since 2002". Probably the survey can be faulted for the limited number of subjects chosen but it is a pointer to what could happen in the modern society where people are more obsessed with their day to day chores, ignoring more serious life threatening issues.

Though there are many ways of sanitizing the hand, washing with soap and plenty of water is considered most efficient as the accumulated virus is loosened and washed away. Virus is known to be transferred from surfaces which are contaminated through sneezing or coughing by the carriers, especially in public places or through direct contact by shaking hands with infected persons. The mute question is how the common man in a country like India can get access to clean water or soap in public places for hand washing when even the basic amenities like clean toilets and water are not easily available, even in metros! Hand washing message, under such trying conditions may look more like preaching, knowing fully well that it cannot be practiced every where.

V.H.POTTY

http://vhpotty.blogspot.com/
http://foodtechupdates.blogspot.com