By Karen Kier
Pharmacist on behalf of the ONU HealthWise team

Many songs have been written about cruising, but they do not always refer to being on a boat.  Smokey Robinson wrote, produced, and recorded his song Cruisin’ for Motown records in 1979. His opening line is a classic when he writes, “Baby, let’s cruise, away from here.”  Cruisin’ was on Smokey’s Where There’s Smoke album and hit #1 on the Billboard charts in 1980.  One can get lost in Smokey’s smooth soul sound.  

Smokey Robinson was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987 and garnered a Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for lifetime contributions to popular music in 2016.  In 2022, Smokey was inducted into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame located in Atlanta, Georgia.  The Walk of Fame was started in 2021 with members of the inaugural class including Quincy Jones, Otis Redding, and James Brown.  

Where am I going with this discussion of cruising?

Many associate outbreaks of norovirus with cruise ships.  However, the odds of getting norovirus is 1 out of 5,500 on a cruise ship versus 1 out of 15 on land.  People sharing close quarters are at a higher risk of spreading norovirus such as a cruise ship or a nursing home.  The norovirus is very contagious.

Norovirus cases dropped dramatically in 2020 to 2021 due to the reduction in person to person contact and the lack of in-person events. It has been a different story for norovirus in 2021-2022 with cases now matching pre-pandemic levels as more individuals are traveling and going to large events.  

Norovirus has been in the news because of the serious outbreak at the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona.  The CDC had been investigating the outbreak especially among hikers in the national park and rafters on the Colorado river.  A report released on September 29, 2022 indicated at least 222 individuals reported a norovirus illness.  An interesting finding from the CDC report is the testing of samples showed two different genotypes of the virus meaning there were two different sources of the outbreak.  

Norovirus is a single-stranded RNA virus from the Caliciviridae family.  As with other viruses, the norovirus has ten genogroups and 48 different genotypes.  The predominant virus in the United States is the GII.4 Sydney strain.  Norovirus received its name from the original strain discovered during a 1968 outbreak in a Norwalk, Ohio school.  

Norovirus can spread from person to person, as well as contracting the virus when coming in contact with contaminated food, water, or surfaces.  Symptoms are the result of severe inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract resulting in diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.  The symptoms usually last 1 to 2 days. There is no treatment for norovirus itself.  Someone who contracts norovirus is advised to stay home and isolate.  Additional warnings include no food preparation for others even two days after symptoms subside.  

The symptoms are best controlled with hydration and electrolyte replacement.  Dehydration from the loss of fluids is one of the biggest concerns.  Dry skin, lips, mouth, and mucous membranes is a warning sign of dehydration.  Another sign is the lack of urine production.  Replacements are critical due to the loss of fluids from the gastrointestinal tract. Diarrhea management includes nonprescription medications like loperamide (Imodium®).  

The CDC is warning about the nationwide increase in cases and the return to pre-pandemic case level.  This warning from the CDC is not only combined with the increases in cases, but it highlights the coming of the norovirus season.  Norovirus cases increase starting in November and go through April.  It parallels the flu season.  The difference is norovirus causes a gastrointestinal illness while the flu causes a respiratory illness.  

The last large outbreak of norovirus in Ohio occurred in May 2022 where 155 people were stricken with the illness while attending a camp in southern Ohio. 

The best advice is to prevent norovirus whenever possible.  Good hand hygiene and sanitizing  surfaces are vital for prevention.  Wash fruits and vegetables prior to eating or serving. 

Cruise on into your healthcare professional or pharmacist to get more information on norovirus. Consult with a healthcare professional about fluid replacement and antidiarrheal medications.  Call the pharmacy if you need advice to control symptoms if you develop norovirus. 

ONU HealthWise is offering COVID-19 vaccines as well as flu shots Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. The bivalent COVID-19 vaccines are available.  Clinics are Monday through Friday from 4:00-6:00 p.m. Please call the pharmacy for an appointment outside of those times or to get more information.  

ONU HealthWise Pharmacy
419-772-3784
www.onuhealthwisepharmacy.com