Also- norovirus is one of the most contagious illnesses and requires something like only 20 little virus cells to make you sick, vs a lot more for other illnesses. (Very scientific, I know. Too lazy to find the article from last year)
You also shed the virus (ie, can spread it to other people) for something like 2 to 3 WEEKS after feeling better (at least, according to the report I saw on ABC World News).
Post by oliverboliverbutt on Jan 30, 2014 21:04:35 GMT -5
When my DS was one we all got norovirus. First DS, and just as he was feeling better DH and I both got hit. Kid is running around needing things and DH and I are taking 15 minute shifts in the bathroom.
It was so fucking awful that I called my parents crying and begged them to drive 7 hours to help us because I didn't know what else to do. They actually did, too- and managed to stay healthy somehow.
The thought of being on that ship makes me feel queasy from remembered sick and from the the thought of all the bodily fluids. Ew ew ew ew
Also- norovirus is one of the most contagious illnesses and requires something like only 20 little virus cells to make you sick, vs a lot more for other illnesses. (Very scientific, I know. Too lazy to find the article from last year)
You also shed the virus (ie, can spread it to other people) for something like 2 to 3 WEEKS after feeling better (at least, according to the report I saw on ABC World News).
Seriously? I didn't know this. Now I feel really bad for everyone on the airplane with me when I flew a week after having norovirus.
My ILs knowingly brought norovirus to my house when PTS was two weeks post open heart sx and despite having been told how dangerous it was for PTS to get sick. This is one reason why I will never be their friend. And that is all I have to add to this thread.
I cannot believe you still talk to them. You're much nicer than I am.
Also- norovirus is one of the most contagious illnesses and requires something like only 20 little virus cells to make you sick, vs a lot more for other illnesses. (Very scientific, I know. Too lazy to find the article from last year)
You also shed the virus (ie, can spread it to other people) for something like 2 to 3 WEEKS after feeling better (at least, according to the report I saw on ABC World News).
YES. We recently had the norovirus visit our house when my mom was in town visiting. DS2 came down with it first, followed very shortly by DS1. My mom flew in the next day for her scheduled trip and didn't come down with it until 10 days later. Then DH and I both caught it 3 days after her. It was a nightmare. I didn't feel 100% again until probably a week after that.
Also- norovirus is one of the most contagious illnesses and requires something like only 20 little virus cells to make you sick, vs a lot more for other illnesses. (Very scientific, I know. Too lazy to find the article from last year)
You also shed the virus (ie, can spread it to other people) for something like 2 to 3 WEEKS after feeling better (at least, according to the report I saw on ABC World News).
Oh that's awful. No one is gonna be able to stay home that long.
noro swept through my school a few years ago. It started on Tuesday and by Friday half our students and staff were out. They sent in some special disinfectant and extra janitors for the weekend.
If it ever starts going around again I will take the week off to be safe. I NEVER want that again. I had to sit on the toilet while I puked into a bucket. It was so so awful.
I ended up in the ER on a vacation after getting norovirus. We were at the Hotel del Coronado, it was our last night there. They were such assholes. The doctor told me not to fly, so we needed to stay in SD another night. The HdC quoted us an insane rate and when we said we couldn't afford it, the concierge refused to help us find another hotel or with our plane tickets. Then they gave us attitude when we asked for late checkout (I still had a hospital bracelet on).
I had never been so sick. The only good thing was that we got upgraded to business class on our flight probably because I looked like I was dying.
I had it again last year and it was bad but I didn't end up in the ER.
I swear I had ptsd from the norovirus I got from my one year old son when I was pregnant with my daughter. My husband and I were literally sick at the exact same time -- "hey honey, I don't feel very good" "wow neither do I" blargh!
For everyone who didn't know you're still contagious weeks after, I believe it's only spread via vomit and fecal matter. So if everyone could practice basic hygiene we wouldn't have to worry about ingesting poop particles from door knobs.
Jesus. Now I think we had norovirus on our ill-fated Thanksgiving road trip a couple of years back. DS was puking up to the day before we left, then DH got it once we got to our SLC hotel. Then DD got it the next night at the next hotel, and then I spent all of Thanksgiving Day in the worst vomitous-maximus state I had ever experienced. And it was just like others have described - stomach cramping like you wouldn't believe, and endless vomiting. AWFUL.
What I'm getting from this thread, aside from a serious case of the heebie jeebies, is that it's not the zombie apocalypse we need to fear, but a worldwide case of the incapacitating shits.
I guess it sort of serves us right to go out in such an undignified manner.
We've lived the norovirus thing a couple times. DS's old elementary had to be shut down, sanitized and inspected by the County Dept of Health. At one point 30% of the kids were out. It started just after the holiday break; the rumor was that it started with a kid whose family went on a cruise or AI vacation.
We had an outbreak one July at scout camp which also had to be sanitized. Not sure how that is done given that 90% of the camp is tents, woods and dirt. Vomiting and ass-piss are no picnic when you have to use a latrine.
When DS was in high school, the marching band did a performance tour in Argentina and about 75% of the kids were sick for part of it. The school nurse didn't sleep for 5 days. She's a saint.
My mom wants to take the extended family on a cruise in 2016. My emetophobia (among other things -- dealing with the TSA with a young child) is making me want to back out.
i have emetophobia too! and a cruise, particularly this specific situation is a my worst nightmare.
I've been following this story because I am going on my 4th cruise in May (on Royal Caribbean... gasp!) and lurk on the Cruise Critic message boards. You can imagine this has been a hot topic over there this week!
I read an article where a passenger said that he saw people getting sick in the terminal before boarding (so there's your patient(s) zero), but never saw anyone sick on the actual cruise. Before boarding, you are given a health questionnaire where they ask if you've had any GI illness in the past X days (can't remember how many). I guess some people don't answer honestly because doing so would mean they're denied boarding and they don't get a refund.
My understanding is that if people report their illness (and not everyone does), then they are asked to stay in their rooms until the symptoms have passed. During their "quarantine," they are provided with food and beverages via room service and they can have whatever they want from the minibar for free. There's no alcohol in the minibar-- just snacks, water, and sodas. They also provide anti-diarrhea and anti-nausea meds, and can administer IV fluids if someone becomes dehydrated.
I'm an emetophobe myself, so I'd have been freaked out on this cruise for sure. But DH and I are both very diligent hand-washers and we avoid buffets, so we generally stay healthy. I suspect that the nearly 80% of passengers who didn't get sick also practiced good hygiene and/or were just lucky. I just wish everyone would wash their damn hands! Unfortunately I see people walk straight out of the restroom from the stall without stopping at the sink all too often.
My husband wants to take a cruise sooooo badly. I have never wanted to. I broke his heart the othernight because i told him with all the viruses there is no.way.in.hell. He is also afraid to fly. We willnever go to NZ or Australia together. That breaks my heart. I am thinking we should each go on our dream trip separately at the same time, lol. And i hope he will not be on SS shitandpuke. I love that!