Norovirus Bug On the Rise, New Strain Arrives to United States

Tips to prevent Norovirus from spreading.

Although the flu is on everyone’s minds this season, the winter vomiting bug, or the norovirus, is making its rounds. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that the norovirus causes about 70,000 hospitalizations and about 800 deaths each year, mostly in young children and the elderly. Common symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pains. The CDC points out that the norovirus is often referred to as the stomach flu, but it is unrelated to influenza. A new norovirus strain, GII.4 Sydney, was detected last year in Australia.  The strain hit the U.K and sickened over a million people. It has now reached the United States and this new strain appears to be taking over.  Of norovirus cases reported from…

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Flu Cases 'Widespread,' Says Red Cross

Outbreaks are earlier than normal in the area.

The Red Cross said there's still time for folks to get flu shots and be covered from what is considered to be a more active flu season. Here are some local options. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said flu outbreaks are high for this time of the season, with "widespread activity" in Easton and the rest of Massachusetts. How do you prevent the flu? According to the CDC, in addition to getting the vaccine, you can: How do you know if you have the virus? Symptoms include: high fever, severe body aches, headache, being extremely tired, sore throat, cough, runny or stuffy nose, and vomiting and/or diarrhea (which is more common in children). When should you call the doctor? According to the Red Cross, if you think you have the flu, your …

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Hardman: Family Cures for What Ails You

Columnist shares family's recipe for curing common cold.

Cough, cough, sniff, sniff. I'm writing this column in pain from the cold, flu, infection or whatever I've had for the last month. It's the bug that came for Halloween and stayed for Thanksgiving. Yes, I've been to a doctor. "Take this medicine and you will feel better by next Tuesday," he said. It's Friday and I'm still in major coughing mode. I know I'm not alone. I hear you coughing in the coffee shop or see you dealing with a runny nose. Wait. I just had another major coughing fit. I've been to my local pharmacy where it is stocked with rows and rows of stuff to help me, us, feel better. Poppycock. Your 24-hour cough relief doesn't work. I still have a stuffed-up nose or I lose my voice every 10 minutes or so. Sorry, I just had another…

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Ross A. Muscato

1:39 am on Monday, November 28, 2011

Mike -- excellent article. first off, make sure you don't have an allergy that has suddenly reared its head. also, I believe in plenty of freshly brewed green tea. really. hot liquids are good. extra doses of Vitamin C and zinc are good. and, if you can manage to do it, really, a couple days in bed (rest is vital) with the green tea and other hot liquids and vitamin C and zinc should be able to …   more ›

Mother Knows Best

The Flu Shot: To Vaccinate or Not to Vaccinate?

The benefits of getting the flu shot and other common vaccines, outweigh any of the potential risks involved.

Have you scheduled your child’s flu shot?  Or, gasp, even your own? There are many reasons why getting injected with a dead virus may not top your to-do list, but it better not be something as lame as…I forgot! Pharmacies around town seem to be singing the same song, Signs, by the Five Man Electrical Band. You know the one - “signs, signs everywhere a sign” - if you don’t CVS, Walgreen’s and Rite Aid certainly do.  And they are covered in them.    Okay, so perhaps you have somehow avoided the signs.  What about the pediatrician reminder card that came by mail?  Surely, your PCP will be sending one along soon. I must admit I loathe this time of year.  Or at least I have since 2004.  That’s the fall I was pregnant with my first child.  It …

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