Latest news with #PaulSax
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Norovirus strikes, again: How to survive a cruise with the stomach bug
New outbreaks of gastrointestinal illnesses on cruise ships have sickened about 150 people, adding to the growing toll of such cases in 2025 ahead of peak cruise season, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Two outbreaks occurred on the Holland America Line's Eurodam and Zuiderdam. The agency also reported new cases on the Lindblad Expeditions' National Geographic Sea Lion. Health officials have yet to determine what caused two of these outbreaks but were able to link Eurodam illnesses to the pathogen behind most of this year's outbreaks: Norovirus. Commonly known as the stomach bug, norovirus is a leading cause of vomiting and diarrhea in the U.S, typically infecting patients through contaminated food or water. The only thing bearable about it is that it is short-lived, passing through the system in one to three days. Norovirus has been linked to twelve outbreaks on cruise ships this year, sickening nearly 1,500 people, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This number surpasses pre-pandemic levels and is on track to exceed 2024's total of 15 norovirus outbreaks. If you plan to cruise with your family this summer, here's everything you need to know about norovirus. Cruise drama: Video shows passengers fighting at Galveston terminal, 24 travelers banned These are symptoms of norovirus infection, according to the Minnesota Department of Health and the Cleveland Clinic: Dizziness Vomiting Diarrhea Stomach cramping Urinating less or dark-colored urine Dry mouth Feeling weak Less common symptoms are: Low-grade fever or chills Headache Muscle aches A person who is sick and has been infected with the virus will typically experience the symptoms suddenly. Children with the virus may be fussy, sleepy throughout the day and cry without tears. People begin to show symptoms one to two days after they've been exposed to the virus, according to the Minnesota Department of Health. But symptoms can appear 12 hours after exposure. Though a person infected with the virus may experience unpleasant symptoms, others may be asymptomatic and show no symptoms at all. Despite showing no symptoms, they can still be contagious and pass the virus to others. There are no antivirals to treat norovirus, and the CDC warns against taking antibiotics because the medication won't work and can lead to dangerous antibiotic resistance. The best way to get through the stomach flu is to rest, stay hydrated and listen to your body, Dr. Paul Sax, clinical director of the infectious disease division at Brigham and Women's Hospital, said during a January 2025 interview. That might mean not eating solid foods for most of the day. "Don't force yourself to eat if you're not ready to eat," said Sax, who is also a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. "If you're feeling a little better, then it's time to introduce foods." If you're not ready for solids, Sax recommends drinking diluted sodas or juices to compensate for the lack of calories throughout the day. It's easy to get dehydrated with a stomach bug, so the CDC recommends drinking plenty of liquids. When it's time to reintroduce solid foods, many doctors will recommend the BRAT diet: bananas, rice, applesauce and toast. But Sax said a patient at the end of a norovirus infection can eat whatever they want if they feel their body is ready. He recommends avoiding alcohol because it tends to slow recovery. Some people also avoid dairy products because norovirus can lead to a temporary lactose intolerance. The infection damages the gut lining, which leads to a lack of lactase, the enzyme that breaks down lactose. More stomach bugs: More than 30 guests, crew sick in Viking cruise gastrointestinal illness outbreak Health experts recommend practicing good hygiene. It's important to note that sanitizers are not effective against norovirus, so it's important to wash hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water, the CDC says. Unfortunately, people can still pass on norovirus for two weeks or more after being infected. Norovirus spreads very easily between people, for instance by sharing food, eating or drinking liquids handled by someone with the virus or touching contaminated surfaces and then putting unwashed fingers in your mouth, according to the CDC. The agency says some of the most common foods associated with norovirus include shellfish, raw vegetables and fruit. Adrianna Rodriguez can be reached at adrodriguez@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Norovirus on cruise ships: How to survive the stomach bug
USA Today
29-04-2025
- Health
- USA Today
Norovirus strikes, again: How to survive a cruise with the stomach bug
Norovirus strikes, again: How to survive a cruise with the stomach bug Show Caption Hide Caption US cruise passenger growth expected to slow in 2025, says AAA U.S. cruise passenger growth is likely to cool off in 2025, according to an industry group. New outbreaks of gastrointestinal illnesses on cruise ships have sickened about 150 people, adding to the growing toll of such cases in 2025 ahead of peak cruise season, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Two outbreaks occurred on the Holland America Line's Eurodam and Zuiderdam. The agency also reported new cases on the Lindblad Expeditions' National Geographic Sea Lion. Health officials have yet to determine what caused two of these outbreaks but were able to link Eurodam illnesses to the pathogen behind most of this year's outbreaks: Norovirus. Commonly known as the stomach bug, norovirus is a leading cause of vomiting and diarrhea in the U.S, typically infecting patients through contaminated food or water. The only thing bearable about it is that it is short-lived, passing through the system in one to three days. Norovirus has been linked to twelve outbreaks on cruise ships this year, sickening nearly 1,500 people, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This number surpasses pre-pandemic levels and is on track to exceed 2024's total of 15 norovirus outbreaks. If you plan to cruise with your family this summer, here's everything you need to know about norovirus. Cruise drama: Video shows passengers fighting at Galveston terminal, 24 travelers banned Symptoms of the stomach bug These are symptoms of norovirus infection, according to the Minnesota Department of Health and the Cleveland Clinic: Dizziness Vomiting Diarrhea Stomach cramping Urinating less or dark-colored urine Dry mouth Feeling weak Less common symptoms are: Low-grade fever or chills Headache Muscle aches A person who is sick and has been infected with the virus will typically experience the symptoms suddenly. Children with the virus may be fussy, sleepy throughout the day and cry without tears. People begin to show symptoms one to two days after they've been exposed to the virus, according to the Minnesota Department of Health. But symptoms can appear 12 hours after exposure. Though a person infected with the virus may experience unpleasant symptoms, others may be asymptomatic and show no symptoms at all. Despite showing no symptoms, they can still be contagious and pass the virus to others. How to treat norovirus There are no antivirals to treat norovirus, and the CDC warns against taking antibiotics because the medication won't work and can lead to dangerous antibiotic resistance. The best way to get through the stomach flu is to rest, stay hydrated and listen to your body, Dr. Paul Sax, clinical director of the infectious disease division at Brigham and Women's Hospital, said during a January 2025 interview. That might mean not eating solid foods for most of the day. "Don't force yourself to eat if you're not ready to eat," said Sax, who is also a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. "If you're feeling a little better, then it's time to introduce foods." What should you eat while sick with norovirus? If you're not ready for solids, Sax recommends drinking diluted sodas or juices to compensate for the lack of calories throughout the day. It's easy to get dehydrated with a stomach bug, so the CDC recommends drinking plenty of liquids. When it's time to reintroduce solid foods, many doctors will recommend the BRAT diet: bananas, rice, applesauce and toast. But Sax said a patient at the end of a norovirus infection can eat whatever they want if they feel their body is ready. He recommends avoiding alcohol because it tends to slow recovery. Some people also avoid dairy products because norovirus can lead to a temporary lactose intolerance. The infection damages the gut lining, which leads to a lack of lactase, the enzyme that breaks down lactose. More stomach bugs: More than 30 guests, crew sick in Viking cruise gastrointestinal illness outbreak How to avoid getting norovirus Health experts recommend practicing good hygiene. It's important to note that sanitizers are not effective against norovirus, so it's important to wash hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water, the CDC says. Unfortunately, people can still pass on norovirus for two weeks or more after being infected. Norovirus spreads very easily between people, for instance by sharing food, eating or drinking liquids handled by someone with the virus or touching contaminated surfaces and then putting unwashed fingers in your mouth, according to the CDC. The agency says some of the most common foods associated with norovirus include shellfish, raw vegetables and fruit. Adrianna Rodriguez can be reached at adrodriguez@
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Mass. hospitals seeing surge in flu patients as doctors report more cases than COVID-19
Health officials are saying we are on track to have one of the worst flu seasons in 15 years with doctors seeing many more cases right now than COVID-19. 'Every year we try to predict what's going to happen and it's really quite difficult,' Dr. Paul Sax, the Director of Infectious Diseases at Brigham and Women's Hospital, told Boston 25 News. Right now in Massachusetts and across the country, hospitals are seeing a surge in flu cases. So far, the CDC estimates there have been at least 24 million flu illnesses, 310,000 hospitalizations, and 13,000 deaths. Just 38% of Massachusetts residents got vaccinated for the flu this season. Sax says he's not surprised. 'I think there is a lot of fatigue in the community about vaccines in general and I think that this is not surprising after all of the push to get people vaccinated for COVID-19,' Sax explained. Sax says in a typical year the flu vaccine is usually 30-50% effective, but he noted that the shot does help in reducing the severity of the illness. 'Our hope is that in the future, not too distant future, there will be a universal vaccine so there won't have to be this guesswork about choosing the strain to use in the flu vaccine,' Sax added. Despite the surge in flu cases, there is some light at the end of the tunnel, according to Sax. For the first time in a while at Mass General Brigham, Sax said the number of positive flu tests slightly declined in the last data collection period. Flu season typically ends by the spring. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
