Increased Norovirus Disease in Lower Saxony

Norovirus infections in Lower Saxony are significantly increasing: According to the Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) in Lower Saxony, a significant increase can be observed in severe gastrointestinal diseases this year. So far, 8,180 cases have been registered since the beginning of the year, compared with 6,590 in the same period of the previous year, reports the TK, citing data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI).

03/11/2012

According to the Techniker Krankenkasse, the most frequent cause of the increased serious gastrointestinal illnesses are rotavirus and norovirus infections. These are most commonly seen during the winter months. So were the TK according to „in the year January to March and in December about 60 per cent of all registered in Lower Saxony Norovirus cases registered.“ There Noroviruses „extremely contagious“ are and already „smallest virus particles“ sufficient for an infection, the TK advises in their current press release „to comply with important hygiene rules such as regular hand washing with soap.“ Also, the contact with already ill persons should be avoided as far as possible.

Braunschweig and Hannover with the most norovirus infections
The number of severe gastrointestinal illness in Lower Saxony has so far risen by 1,590 cases or 24 per cent compared to the previous year. It was according to the information of the technicians health insurance „the administrative district of Brunswick with 2,473 reported cases, followed by the administrative district of Hanover (2,304 cases)“ most affected. An infection with noroviruses leads after a incubation period of a maximum of three days to sudden onset symptoms, such as abdominal pain to stomach and intestinal cramps, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. The patients show a massive „Disease, sometimes also cardiovascular weakness, mild fever and headache“, reports the TC. The pathogens can be passed on to others around eight days after recovery, so that attention must be paid to compliance with hygiene rules even after the supposed recovery.

Noroviruses are extremely contagious
If people in their own household are already suffering from norovirus infection, compliance with thorough toilet and kitchen hygiene plays a special role. Furthermore, if possible, only one person in the household should take care of the patients in order to minimize the risk of infection for others, reports the Techniker Krankenkasse. The patients themselves need to drink a lot to balance the fluid loss and „to strengthen the weakened electrolyte balance again“, so the message of TK. If a serious illness develops, the health insurance company should consult a doctor as early as possible. This applies in particular to infants and the elderly.

Annual fluctuations in norovirus infections
The increase in severe gastrointestinal diseases on the part of the Lower Saxon authorities has not caused any particular concern. There is no evidence of a norovirus wave, said the state health department. „We have only a slight, seasonal increase in reporting cases, "said state health spokesman Dr. Holger Scharlach to the news agency „dpa“- According to the spokesman for the authorities, around 75 percent of the illnesses were registered between January and March this year. Although there were much fewer norovirus infections in 2011, in 2010, significantly more. Massive annual fluctuations are not uncommon in norovirus infections, as several major outbreaks, such as the recent wave of infestation by contaminated Chinese frozen strawberries among schoolchildren in East Germany, sometimes affect thousands of people. (Fp)

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