The Norwalk Virus?

[Queen Asuka]

[color=hotpink][size=1]Has anyone ever heard of it? It's the virus that infected cruise ships not long ago and was all over the news. Now it's all over the news again: this time it's striking at major Universities and is spreading like wildfire. The symptoms are nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. I had gotten sick last week and went to the Health Center to be treated, but as of Friday, hundreds more students were infected. Two of my three roommates caught it, as did Ryan, and now his little brother has it. Has anyone else been lucky enough to catch what us UGA students are calling "The plague?"

It's easily spread in universities because of everyone living in close proximities in the dorms. At first they thought it was food poisoning, but after seeing how contagious it was, they soon ruled that option out. I have no idea where I got it from because I hadn't been in contact with anyone who had already been sick. I was actually one of the first to catch the virus.

Thoughts, opinions?[/color][/size]

[Waterflash]

Yes, I've heard of it before. (I watch the news every evening and night...) From the symptoms, I think it sounds like some kind of stomach virus.

Or maybe it's like when there's already something going around but it weakens the system to where the actual virus can make you sick.

Ah, I'm no expert at this kind of thing, but that's just what it seems like to me.

-Waterflash

[Boba Fett]

[color=green]I?ve heard of the Norwalk Virus. Being a news addict, I knew that it?d struck fairly frequently and with vacation-dampening effects on several cruise ships. Apparently the ships they found it on had to return to their homeports for a series of massive disinfection treatments. Not good things to have happen while you?re on an extremely expensive cruise?

Apparently, from what I?ve heard, it?s extremely virulent when introduced into closed environments. Therefore, it?s no surprise that this virus would pop up in schools or colleges. Not a good thing, but not unexpected. I?d imagine that the stress of college life would depress the immune system to slightly below normal, which also assists the spread of the contagion.

Apparently this virus has been going around since ?72, when it was first discovered in the town ofNorwalk, Ohio. Apparently is spreads by contaminated feces of an infected person; ick. So, based on these facts, it?d be best to wash your hand frequently and always before you eat. Remember to use warm, soapy water.

[URL=http://www.astdhpphe.org/infect/norwalk.html]More information can be found here.[/URL][/color]

[Queen Asuka]

[QUOTE=Boba Fett][color=green]Apparently is spreads by contaminated feces of an infected person; ick. So, based on these facts, it?d be best to wash your hand frequently and always before you eat. Remember to use warm, soapy water.
[/color][/QUOTE]

[color=hotpink][size=1]Wow, that is so disgusting. But thankfully I can say that I haven't really been in contact with human feces other than my own. I'm not sure where I got it from since I was one of the first people around here to actually catch the virus. It was so awful, though. Things seem to finally be winding down, which is a good thing. Down here at UGA we're calling it "The Plague." I myself am considered to be a "Pioneer of the Plague" since I was one of the first to catch it.[/color][/size]

[Boba Fett]

[quote name='Queen Asuka][color=hotpink][size=1]Wow, that is so disgusting. But thankfully I can say that I haven't really been in contact with human feces other than my own. I'm not sure where I got it from since I was one of the first people around here to actually catch the virus. It was so awful, though. Things seem to finally be winding down, which is a good thing. Down here at UGA we're calling it "The Plague." I myself am considered to be a "Pioneer of the Plague" since I was one of the first to catch it.[/color'][/size][/quote]

[color=green]I?m certainly glad that your campus is settling down again. I have a difficult time making up missed class when I?m sick, so I can only imagine the work that goes into making up college classes.

My guess is that you picked up the ?plague? from eating out someplace with rather disgusting employees. Maybe you should change the group of restaurants you frequent?

Good thing Norwalk is relatively harmless if you take good care of yourself while you?re affected. After all, there?s no cure and it?s extremely virulent.[/color]

[NorykoAngelcry]

[quote name='Boba Fett][color=green']Apparently this virus has been going around since ?72, when it was first discovered in the town ofNorwalk, Ohio. Apparently is spreads by contaminated feces of an infected person; ick. So, based on these facts, it?d be best to wash your hand frequently and always before you eat. Remember to use warm, soapy water.[/color][/quote]

[COLOR=darkred][SIZE=1]It's pretty strange how frequently people go without washing their hands. I am not really a germ-a-phobe or anything, but I don't think I could stand to leave my hands unwashed for a long period of time. I mean, even when I am at work, I will wash my hands after being on a register, or dealing with merchandise for a while. I am not over paranoid about getting sick or anything, but it's courtious to have clean hands when handling people's money. I also wash my hands whenever I go to break, or come back. . it's just a little better that way. I don't want to eat a sandwhich after being out on the sales floor for longer then like. . 10 minutes. Some of the boxes or merchandise I have touched are so filthy, it's pretty nasty. *shrug*

It's even worse at college. . from my experience. I mean, some of these guys will walk right past the sink in the bathroom everytime. . *shudders* It's pretty nasty. I mean, these guys will go on to eat, or play some video games, or even go to sleep. . why?! -_- Oh well. . can't control them. lol [/SIZE][/COLOR]

[Queen Asuka]

[color=hotpink][size=1]I figure that I picked it up somewhere around campus. See, I always have my hands in my mouth (fingernails to chew, cuticles and so forth, heh) and so I must have had to germs on my hands and then done something stupid. It really is gross, but I'm just glad it's over with.

As for making up for lost college classes, you have no idea. I am SO behind.[/color][/size]

[MarkM]

Queen Asuka have you gone out to eat latley? Because if so then sombody that cooked your food could have forgotten to was his/her hands. It's gross I know, but its possible

-Mark

[Deedlit]

[color=#009966]Just when you think that flu season is over....V.V;

That kinda sucks, Tori. Nausea [I]and[/I] make-up work? Anyway, hopefully you won't get it again. ;)[/color]

[Patronus]

I don't know if this has been answered, or not, but is this fatal?

I haven't heart of it [u]at[/u] [u]all[/u]. Which means either a.) it's never been in Ohio or b.) Ohio's the next place it's going to hit.

[Boba Fett]

[QUOTE=Boba Fett][color=green]My guess is that you picked up the ?plague? from eating out someplace with rather disgusting employees. Maybe you should change the group of restaurants you frequent?
[/color][/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=MarkM]Queen Asuka have you gone out to eat latley? Because if so then sombody that cooked your food could have forgotten to was his/her hands. It's gross I know, but its possible

-Mark[/QUOTE]

[color=green]Hmmmm?

Does it echo in here?[/color]

[quote name='Boba Fett][color=green']Good thing Norwalk is relatively harmless if you take good care of yourself while you?re affected. After all, there?s no cure and it?s extremely virulent.[/color][/quote]

[QUOTE=Leh]I don't know if this has been answered, or not, but is this fatal?

I haven't heart of it [u]at[/u] [u]all[/u]. Which means either a.) it's never been in Ohio or b.) Ohio's the next place it's going to hit.[/QUOTE]

[color=green]Yes it?s been answered. If you?d read the whole thread?[/color]

[Ryu_Sakura]

Hm... nope never haerd of it. I'm sorry you got sick, but I've been getting sick several times this year, several of which sent me to the hospital. I wonder how you got it? Maybe toilet? *cough* Yeah I know this may have been said but if you to to the bathroom in a public place, like a resterant, and since you don't know who went before you I think it's a posiblity. I just hope your all right, and if not, get better. Now! o.0;; Sorry, I'm a little hyper, I have been sleeping constantly since I got sick the other day. So now I have lots of energy. And am bord...