Researcher This seagrass can protect against norovirus infections

Seagrass could protect against infections with dangerous noroviruses

Norovirus is one of the most common pathogens of infectious gastrointestinal diseases. Such infections can be fatal in extreme cases. To prevent infection with the dangerous noroviruses, certain hygiene measures should be followed. Researchers have now discovered that even seagrass could protect against infection with the virus.

Partly lethal gastrointestinal diseases

An infection with Norovirus usually hits people surprisingly fast and violently. The gastrointestinal infections usually start suddenly with violent diarrhea, nausea and bubbly vomiting. In addition, there is often a strong sense of malady with muscle and abdominal pain, occasionally with mild fever and headache. Most complaints resolve completely after one to two days, but in extreme cases, the diseases are life-threatening. There is no vaccine or medication. Only the symptoms can be treated. But you can protect yourself from infection, possibly with seagrass, as researchers have found out.

Noroviruses are among the most common pathogens of infectious gastrointestinal diseases. Common symptoms include diarrhea, nausea and giddy vomiting. Researchers have now found that seagrass could help prevent infection with the pathogens. (Image: VadimGuzhva / fotolia.com)

Protect against norovirus infections

To prevent norovirus infections, certain hygiene measures should be followed.

Careful hand washing after each visit to a bathroom, before preparing food and before eating, after using public transport or other contact with many people can help to break the chains of infection.

The toilet should be cleaned as many times a day as possible in the acute period of vomiting and diarrhea. "Critical" areas in the bathroom such as door handles and fittings must also be thoroughly cleaned.

When cleaning, rubber gloves should be worn and the cleaning cloths changed more frequently. In the acute phase, disposable wipes are recommended because of the high number of viruses.

Dishes can be cleaned as usual and thus also in the dishwasher. Laundry and towels should be washed with a heavy duty detergent at least 60 degrees.

German scientists have now found another way to prevent diseases caused by norviruses.

The preparation is to be developed in the coming years

As the "Berliner Morgenpost" reported, components of seaweed could prevent an infection with Norovirus.

According to the newspaper report, this suggests a study by German researchers led by the University of Cologne, which will be published shortly in the journal "Journal of Biological Chemistry".

Thus, the dangerous germs in intestinal cells dock to the sugar fucose. If you supply this sugar in sufficient quantity from other sources, the viruses would plunge according to the authors instead.

It is said that seagrass is a promising spring. According to the information, the researchers want to develop a corresponding product within the next few years. (Ad)