At Least 200 People Infected with Norovirus in the US

At least 200 people have been infected with norovirus after visiting a casino in Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA. Local WVUE television reported this news.

According to the television station, this refers to an outbreak of norovirus at the L'Auberge Casino last week. Louisiana's health secretary, Lacey Cavanaugh, noted that the virus is highly contagious. “At this point, it is not important how it started, as we are now seeing the virus spread within the community,” she said.

Norovirus causes acute gastroenteritis, which is sometimes referred to as intestinal or stomach flu. Symptoms of norovirus include high fever and nausea. It is not fatal, and symptoms usually disappear within 12 to 72 hours. To prevent infection with this type of virus, it is advised to drink plenty of fluids, wash hands frequently with soap or alcohol-based disinfectants, and pay special attention to food hygiene.