Stomach VIRUS Cruises Into New York City ‘Norwalk’ Detected In Early Autumn

- The stomach virus ripping its way through New York City appears to be the same disease that ravaged the cruise ship industry, health officials told The New York Sun.

The outbreak of what they believe is the Norwalk virus was first detected in early autumn, the officials said. They are still awaiting final confirmation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that the virus is the same.

“We noticed an increase in hospitalizations,” Dr. Thomas Frieden said. “But we are still waiting to make sure it is the Norwalk virus. The results are not back yet.”

Officials told the Sun that while they know there has been a large increase in the number of hospitalizations of people suffering from stomach viruses, they do not have any firm numbers.

“We only track the hospitalizations,” said Greg Butler, a spokesman for the city’s health department. “There are many people who probably just stay at home and wait it out.”

The virus — which has been in the news recently because of a series of outbreaks aboard cruise ships — is actually fairly common on land, according to the CDC.

The centers received reports of 21 outbreaks on ships and 26 outbreaks on land in the last year, though not all outbreaks have been confirmed as the virus.

And in New York State last year, 11 hospitals and 97 nursing homes and rehabilitation centers reported cases to the state health department.

Just last month there were three outbreaks on Long Island. Three medical centers — St. Charles Hospital and Rehabilitation Center in Port Jefferson, Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow, and Pilgrim Psychiatric Center in West Brentwood — reported a total of 86 cases.

Officials are concerned because the number of shipboard cases tripled in 2002 from the year before.

At the same time, officials are aware that the increase in reports might just be the result of better reporting and better surveillance.

The symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps. Headache and low-grade fever may also occur.

If, as expected, the virus sending New Yorkers to their bathrooms is Norwalk, it would be at least the second year in a row the Big Apple has been sickened.

It is impossible to determine how long Norwalk has been a presence in the city because it was only after the 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center that the way disease surveillance is conducted at city hospitals was changed.

“We do so much more monitoring of hospitalizations and emergency room visits,” according to Mr. Butler, the health department spokesman. “And it was this germic surveillance that led to the discovery that something was happening.”

Even if the city is suffering from a Norwalk outbreak, the suffering should not last long.

“It’s something that appears to last from the beginning of fall through early winter,” Mr. Butler said.

And, according to officials, even when someone does get it, it only lasts about 48 hours.

The virus — which is often spread through food or water — can also be passed through casual personal contact such as a handshake.

Health officials say that because it can be spread so easily and the fact New Yorkers are almost always in very close proximity to each other is what caused the outbreak.

“New Yorkers should look at this as a reminder why it is so important to wash your hands and practice good hygiene,” Mr. Butler of the health department said.

By the way, the average visit to a clinic here in Alaska for "Norwalk Virus" would cost close to $200. If you elected to go to the hospital Emergency Department, you can count on at least double that bill- plus a lot of lab tests you don't need or want.

Not presuming to give advice, but as long as I have no real pain (cramps don't count), can hold down enough fluids to stay reasonably hydrated, and my temp is under 102, I'll skip the doctor.

In the case of a small child or an old, frail person, of course, I would be a lot more cautious! They don't tolerate dehydration well.

BTW, if you do get Norwalk-like virus, you can be sure that someone you came into contact with (or who handled your food or utensils) did not wash their hands after using the toilet. No mystery about it- it's a virus found in feces.

For fun, start keeping a mental tally of the folks who use any public restroom you happen to be in who just go straight out the door, without stopping at the sink. (Especially in restaurants, this is an instructive exercise). You will find that it is at least 50%- usually more. (Women may be a little better at this, but published studies really do not show this...)

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