What is norovirus? 2018 Winter Olympics plagued by vomit
Lee-Ann Jaykus
The norovirus is also referred to as the âwinter vomiting bug " Lee-Ann Jaykus  the scientific director for NoroCORE  a food safety initiative thatâs funded through a $25 million grant from the USDA  told Fox News.
The norovirus  which has different strains  can spread easily -- especially in close spaces   Jaykus  said.
When an infected person vomits or defecates  âmassive amounts [of the virus] are excreted â  Jaykus  explained. âThere are millions to billions of particles in one just one gram.â
Food handlers who are sick and donât practice adequate hygiene can easily infect other people. Infected water can also spread the illness  though this more commonly occurs in developing countries   Jaykus  noted.
How do you prevent  it ?
âHand washing is hugely important. In fact  itâs the single most important thing for people attending Olympics." - Lee-Ann Jaykus
âHand washing is hugely important â  Jaykus  said. âIn fact  itâs the single most important thing for people attending Olympics â  she  said.
The norovirus is extremely hard to kill   Jaykus  warned. Inactivating the virus requires a high concentration of bleach. And while itâs easy enough to clean countertops and other similar surfaces with bleach  the same canât be said for carpet and furniture. Alcohol isnât strong enough to entirely kill the virus either   Jaykus  added.
âThe norovirus can be spread for weeks â said  Jaykus   who added that quarantining infected people can also be useful in preventing the spread of norovirus.
âThis is really scary for the athletes -- if you have norovirus you really are incapacitated â said  Jaykus   though no athletes have reported having symptoms of the virus.
The norovirus is also referred to as the âwinter vomiting bug "  [TGT]   the scientific director for NoroCORE  a food safety initiative thatâs funded through a $25 million grant from the USDA  told Fox News.
The norovirus  which has different strains  can spread easily -- especially in close spaces   Jaykus  said.
When an infected person vomits or defecates  âmassive amounts [of the virus] are excreted â  Jaykus  explained. âThere are millions to billions of particles in one just one gram.â
Food handlers who are sick and donât practice adequate hygiene can easily infect other people. Infected water can also spread the illness  though this more commonly occurs in developing countries   Jaykus  noted.
How do you prevent  it ?
âHand washing is hugely important. In fact  itâs the single most important thing for people attending Olympics." -  [TGT] 
âHand washing is hugely important â  Jaykus  said. âIn fact  itâs the single most important thing for people attending Olympics â  she  said.
The norovirus is extremely hard to kill   Jaykus  warned. Inactivating the virus requires a high concentration of bleach. And while itâs easy enough to clean countertops and other similar surfaces with bleach  the same canât be said for carpet and furniture. Alcohol isnât strong enough to entirely kill the virus either   Jaykus  added.
âThe norovirus can be spread for weeks â said  Jaykus   who added that quarantining infected people can also be useful in preventing the spread of norovirus.
âThis is really scary for the athletes -- if you have norovirus you really are incapacitated â said  Jaykus   though no athletes have reported having symptoms of the virus.