Norovirus can spread via clothes – as expert warns it can survive entire month in most conditions
NOROVIRUS can linger on your clothes for up to a month, an expert has warned.
Other fabric-lined items like chairs, pillows, and curtains can also hold onto the norovirus bug.
Cases of the winter vomiting bug, which often triggers nausea, diarrhoea and vomiting, have surged by 40 per cent compared to previous years.
The stomach illness spreads through close contact with infected individuals or by touching surfaces or objects that have been contaminated.
It can also be caught by eating food someone with the virus has made or touched.
Washing hands thoroughly with water is the best line of defence against the bug.
The NHS already warn against relying on hand sanitiser alone to stop the virus, as alcohol-based sanitisers don’t kill it.
This is because it helps break down the protein shell of the virus, leaving it weak.
To prevent the virus from spreading, experts also recommend washing and drying clothes in a high-heat setting.
Jason Tetro, a microbiologist and author, told HuffPost that clothing is like a “solid petri dish” because its porous fabric can trap the bug.
“Anything that comes into contact with your clothes is going to stick to [them],” he said.
“Norovirus [can] survive an entire month in pretty much any condition.”
Synthetic materials, such as polyester, hold onto the virus longer than natural ones, like cotton and wool.
This, Dr Jason explained, is because synthetic materials are made from petrochemicals, which are “very oily”.
“The microbes, which also are very oily on the outside … tend to stick around much longer…and they end up growing at a much faster rate,” he explained.
Washing detergents – specifically biological types – will help kill norovirus bacteria, he added.
But, like with hand washing hot water is your “best friend” when it comes to killing microbes, he explained.
He recommended people also run an empty hot-water cycle with bleach once a month to clean the washing machine.
The 5 everyday mistakes putting you at greater risk of norovirus
SUFFERING from headaches, vomiting or a high temperature? You’re not alone.
Cases of the sickness bug norovirus have increased rapidly over the last few weeks.
Norovirus spreads very easily through close contact as well as contaminated surfaces and food, so sometimes you simply won’t be able to evade it.
However, there are some easy ways to protect yourself from the dreaded bug, according to two experts.
Importantly, try to avoid making these five mistakes:
1. Poor hand hygiene
Failing to wash hands properly after using the bathroom or before handling food can spread norovirus, according to Dr Damien Tully, from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
As Dr Tully explains, “Norovirus is quite resilient—alcohol-based hand sanitisers won’t work as they can’t break through the virus’s protective protein coat.”
2. The wrong cleaning products
Using the wrong cleaning products can leave the virus behind, Dr Zina Alfahl, from the University of Galway, explains.
“Norovirus is resistant to many cleaning agents, so it’s essential to use disinfectants with chlorine bleach to effectively neutralise it,” she says.
3. Food prep errors
Preparing food while sick or shortly after recovery can contaminate meals.
Eating raw shellfish, like oysters, also increases the risk as they filter and accumulate the virus, making proper food washing essential, Dr Tully says.
4. Poor sickness protocol
If you’re ill, cleaning up properly is crucial, Dr Alfahl, added.
“Scrub thoroughly and clean promptly” to prevent further contamination, she explains.
5. Sharing towels, cutlery, and phones
Sharing personal items such as towels, cutlery, or phones without proper sanitation can easily spread the virus.
To reduce risk, “maintain good hygiene and avoid sharing these items,” Dr Alfahl adds.
Scientists at the University of Minnesota stress that cleaning surfaces touched by someone infected with norovirus is essential to remove the virus.
If someone vomits on furniture or carpet, they recommend not vacuuming right away, as this can spread pathogens into the air.
Instead, pour some baking soda on the area before using steam cleaning or antimicrobial products designed to fight norovirus.
The latest figures from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) show that this year, 4,523 reports of norovirus have been recorded in the UK, more than double the 2,057 cases reported five years ago.
The number of patients with norovirus-like symptoms has been rising.
NHS data revealed that last week, 528 hospital beds in England were filled each day by patients suffering from diarrhoea, vomiting, or norovirus-like symptoms.
While this is down from 723 the previous week, it still represents a 40 per cent increase compared to last year’s 377 and 2022’s 338.
Actual case numbers could be even higher since the figures only account for confirmed cases and reported outbreaks.
When to visit a doctor
Most people with norovirus will recover at home without needing to visit a doctor.
Symptoms, like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea, generally go away on their own.
The NHS recommend rest, staying hydrated, and taking paracetamol for any fever or body aches.
Rehydration drinks like Dioralyte, which replenishes both salts and fluids, can be bought over the counter.
Parents should avoid giving children fizzy drinks or fruit juices, as these can make diarrhoea worse.
Antibiotics don’t work for viral infections like norovirus.
But if someone is severely ill with intense vomiting and diarrhoea, they can ask their GP for anti-sickness medication.